FAIRMONT SCHOOL DISTRICT #89735 Green Garden Place

Lockport, IL 60441Phone: 815-726-6318

Fax: 815-726-6157www.fsd89.org

MISSION STATEMENTWe at Fairmont School District 89 inpartnership with families and the community, will promote an environmentthat challenges all students to achievetheir highest potential as respectful, responsible, lifelong learners.

FAIRMONT FIVE· Be There, Be Prepared· Be Respectful· Be Responsible· Follow Directions· Keep Hands, Feet & Objects to Yourself

FAIRMONT FOCUSFall 2015Volume 3, Issue 1

A SUCCESSFUL BEGINNING

This school year is off to a positive start and there are many happenings at the schooland district level to share with you. In my estimation educators have two primary responsibilities. One is to work collaboratively with you for the purpose of ensuringthe safety and well-being of your children. Our second primary responsibility is to provide our students with the best academic experiences possible.

In August the students arrived to school safe and ready to learn. Prior to the arrivalof the students, Fairmont School teachers and administrators engaged in professionaldevelopment training. New teachers reported to school on August 12th. It is on thisday that I had the great honor of providing them with professional development focused on the topic of Culturally Responsive Teaching for Improvements in Student Learning. Additionally, Fairmont teachers Mrs. Sabrina Jackson and Ms.Juanita Crisostomo provided new teachers with the support needed to ensure theirsuccessful transition into the profession and school culture.

On August 18th, our very own Mrs. Christie Pawlak conducted a full day of professional development focused on exposing all teachers to the newly revised andfully aligned English/Language Arts Curriculum. During the summer months, teachermembers of the curriculum writing/revision team engaged in the process of writingcurriculum that is fully aligned with Common Core State Standards. The standardswere developed for the purpose of ensuring that all students graduate from highschool with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in college, career and life. The August 19th training focused on Writing Throughout the Curriculum. Teachers were provided with strategies for effectively teaching writing at all grade levels. As is evident we are maintaining a laser-like focus on student learning and welook forward to our continued partnership with you.

In the area of safety, I would like to encourage all parents to continue to work closelywith the teachers and school principal in an effort to provide the support needed toensure that your children arrive in the school at the beginning of the day and to yourcars at the end of the day. Respectfully, parents are asked to assume responsibility forescorting your children to your car in the event that you are interested in havingthem meet you in the parking lot.

Again, we thank you so very much for your support and look forward to our continued partnership. Together “we can make a difference.”

Dr. Sonya Whitaker, Superintendent

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MEET PRINCIPAL MRS. ZARITA BEAL

Please join me in welcoming Principal ZaRita Beal. Mrs. Beal brings to Fairmont Schoola wide variety of experiences in the areas of teaching, leading, curriculum and instruction.She has served as a classroom teacher and leader in the Chicago Public School District.Mrs. Beal has a sincere love for children and brings to Fairmont School a high level of energy and focus on teaching and learning.

Most recently, I sat down with Mrs. Beal so that I could provide you with a deeper lookinto her thoughts. In an effort to gain the most out of the conversation I posed a few questions for her to consider andI am excited to share her responses with you.

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Superintendent Whitaker: Mrs. Beal, prior to becoming and administrator you were a teacher. Please share with thecommunity what you love most about the teaching profession.

Principal Beal: “I believe the greatest responsibility is that of preparing students for effective participation in society, as well asaffording every student the opportunity to develop to the fullest potential appropriate to his or her capabilities. I am very passionateabout the elementary and middle school years. This is an important and critical time of transition – moving from the elementary experience and preparing for the bigger challenge of high school. What happens during these few short years will have a lastingimpression on their development and growth. One of the greatest joys is seeing former students excel and remind you of how instrumental you were in that aspect of their lives.”

Superintendent Whitaker: Can you please share with the parents and community what you have enjoyed most aboutserving as principal of Fairmont thus far?

Principal Beal: “Since being principal of Fairmont, I’ve enjoyed the feeling of “FAMILY”. There is a strong sense of pride,warmth, and dedication I see in the teachers and students to the Fairmont community. I enjoy walking through the halls and classrooms daily greeted by smiling little faces that could brighten anyone’s day. It is with great pleasure and humbled heart thatI do all that I can to instill in all children Fairmont’s Three B’s to Success: Be Respectful! Be Responsible! Be Safe!”

Superintendent Whitaker: What is your greatest hope for the children of Fairmont School?

Principal Beal: “My greatest hope for the children of Fairmont is for them to know and understand that they have a principalthat loves and cares for them. To instill in them the values and belief that all students can and will learn. We have adopted thebelief that “TEAM work Makes the DREAM Work”. It will take all stake holders to come together to make sure that this happens.”

A MESSAGE FROM THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

“My name is ZaRita Beal, the new Principal for Fairmont School. It is my privilege and honor to join Fairmont and the Lockport community. I am looking forward to an exciting year of learning and growing with our students and working with ourprofessional staff and you, our parents and community members.

We at Fairmont School District 89 in partnership with families and the community, will promote an environmentthat challenges all students to achieve their highest potential as respectful, responsible, lifelong learners.

Working within this philosophy of Fairmont School District 89, the faculty and staff of Fairmont School believes its greatest responsibility is that of preparing its students for effective participation in society, as well as affording every student the opportunity to develop to the fullest potential appropriate to his or her capabilities.”

CELEBRATING OUR SUCCESSES

I am sure that you have heard of the term “success breeds success.” As a resultof experiencing success human beings naturally become motivated and charged.We are not quite half way through the school year and yet there are manyaccomplishments worth celebrating. As Superintendent, I will be highlightingthese accomplishments in greater detail during my “State of The District” presentation at the beginning of the board of education meeting on January20th at 5:30 p.m.

In the area of fiscal responsibility, I am most proud to share that Administrationhas been able to present to the Board of Education and community with anotherbalanced budget. Due to uncertainties related to financial issues at the statelevel, doing so becomes more and more difficult each year and there are no guarantees for the future. However, doing so for five years consecutively is definitely a reason to celebrate. Most recently Standard and Poor’s Credit Rating Company issued Fairmont School District 89 an A+ Credit Rating andwe have also received the highest financial rating as is issued by the IllinoisState Board of Education.

I am also pleased to share with you that as a result of having our “fiscal housein order” we are able to provide students with opportunities relevant to increasing their exposure to technology. As you are aware we have implementeda 1 to 1 Laptop initiative at the 8th and 7th grade levels. Beginning in the NewYear this laptop initiative is expected to be implemented at the 6th grade level.Also in order to better prepare our 8th grade students for their future experiences at the high school level, we will launch a Chrome Book Initiative.

We have also increased our focus in the area of Facilities Planning. Our plansinitially began with examining various aspects of the previous plan as well asparticipating in a Preventative Maintenance Program. This is being done toallow the district’s facility related needs to be addressed on a more on-going andproactive basis. The Facilities Planning Committee will begin the process ofprioritizing key areas for addressing. The end result of this committee work willbe the development of a Comprehensive Facilities Plan.

Illinois Association of School Boards Member Awards:

Please join me in acknowledging the Fairmont School District 89 Board of Education members for the work that they have done in the area of professionaldevelopment. Several board of education members received recognition at theThree Rivers Fall Conference Dinner held on Thursday, October 29, 2015.Member Charles Travis received the Level I Award, New Master Board Member and New Leadership Member Awards, Board Secretary Robert Loewereceived the Level II Award and New Master Board Member Award, Board VicePresident Joseph Ryan received the New Master Board Member Award, andboard members Sylvia Dotson, Joseph Dalpiaz and Jeremy Burns all receivedthe New Leadershop Award/Recognition.

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With regard to parent and community involvement, the district’s initiative, Parents Count Pick2, has been extremely successful. The purpose of this initiative has been to improve studentlearning by increasing parent participation. There has been a significant increase in parentalinvolvement. Although there are many channels by which school and district officials havesought to accomplish this goal, the most significant involvement has occurred during Parent Literacy Nights and as a result of the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS),and School Assembly Programs for parents and students. The district has also maintained partnerships with the Education Department of Lewis University. Additionally, the district enhanced its’ partnership with Parkview Christian Church.

The extended partnership has been accomplished through the continuation and expansion ofthe Church Has Left the Building Initiative launched by Pastor Brain Hunt of Parkview Christian Church (Lockport Campus). Additionally, Fairmont district officials have also begunthe initial stages involved in forming a partnership with Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church ofLockport.

PARENTS COUNT PICK 2

From the Desk of the Superintendent

Food for Thought

In a brief moment of quiet reflection I can’t help but to be reminded of why Ichose this profession. It has always been to work collaboratively with others forthe purpose of ensuring that students reach their highest potential. It is with thissimple, yet complex thought in mind that I share my thinking with you.

As many of you are aware, in the era of “high stakes testing” it can be easy to forget what our true purpose is. Yes we want our students to fare well on highstakes tests, Yes we want to be able to say that our students are showing growthfrom one year to the next on a particular assessment but NO that is not wherethe Focus should end.

Our students are gifted in areas that cannot always be measured on standardizedtests. Our Focus has to remain on being clear about “what matters most.” OurFocus has got to remain on being able to answer four key questions. (1) Are our students learning? (2) How do we know that learning is occurring at school andin the home setting? (3) What part do we play as educators, parents, teachersand community members in ensuring that they are learning? and (4) Are ourstudents’ life chances enhanced as a direct result of our collaborative efforts?

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