EDUCATORS VISIT D41 FOR 21ST CENTURY INSPIRATION
Today, a team of educators from Paxton, IL visited District 41 to see the district's 21st century learning initiatives in action. The team, which is researching many of the approaches that the district has implemented, talked to educators and students at Benjamin Franklin, Churchill and Hadley about their experiences. For example, at Churchill students explained how they collaborated in math via Edmodo ("it's like Facebook for kids, only for learning," explained one child), and at Benjamin Franklin the visitors observed students working in groups to devise authentic ways to demonstrate "relationships," a concept that will be fundamental to their literacy/social studies work around the  question "What does it mean to be a citizen of a democracy?" At Hadley, they toured the newly-renovated Library Media Center as an example of a true 21st century learning environment. Pictured with Churchill students are Eastlawn Elementary School Principal Barry Wright and District 41 Assistant Superintendent for Teaching, Learning and Accountability Karen Carlson.

SCIENTISTS BRING ANTARCTICA TO FOREST GLEN
On Monday, Level 3 Forest Glen students learned some cold, hard facts about the composition of the Antarctic ice sheet and other polar points of interest. Dr. Ross Powell, who has spent many years studying these vast and frigid regions, told students about his work with the Whillans Ice Stream Subglacial Access Research Drilling Project and the explorations conducted in the subglacial Lake Whillans and the Ross Sea (made famous by explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton). A fascinating example of the work? Using hot water to drill through 800 meters of solid ice, creating a borehole for collecting data and samples. Also in attendance was John Winans, a Hadley and Glenbard West graduate who has worked on the project and who connected with a group of Forest Glen students last year to help them learn about the region. Dr. Powell is pictured at Forest Glen with a piece of equipment used in his research.

POW! COMES TO HADLEY ON JAN. 18
  POW! stands for Powerful Outstanding Women and it's Hadley's third annual event for all girls in 6th-8th grade, along with the special women in their lives (moms, aunts, grandmothers, etc.). Returning is dynamic keynote speaker Tiffany Bruessard along with activities such as improv, yoga, mindful meditation, Zumba, vision boards, artand more. POW! is the brainchild of Hadley teacher Hillary Shumate who enlisted the support of the Hadley PTA and community organizations to provide an event to inspire girls and help them meet their full potential. This free event will take place Jan. 18 at Hadley from 8 a.m. to noon. Click here for more information and to sign up.