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payton community monthly meeting
wed. 12/05
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The monthly Payton Community Meeting is a brief and informative opportunity to hear what is going on at school directly from our principal. The meetings start at 6PM and usually end by 7PM. The meetings are generally held on the first Wednesday of every month, but always check the monthly calendar (at right) in case the schedule has changed. All meetings are held in the Library (also known as the Literacy Center).
 The FOP Fundraising Team meeting will be held on Dec. 5 at 7PM after the Payton Community Meeting. Everyone is welcome!
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the fop/ppie
fall 2012 campaign
continues.
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Thanks to those who have already given! If you haven't, there's still time to give to the Friends of Payton and Payton Parents Initiative for Education Fall Appeal. You can donate in the following ways:
1. Mail a check payable to FOP or PPIE at 1034 N. Wells Street, Chicago, IL 60610.
2. Drop a check into the FOP box in the school office. Make it payable to FOP or PPIE.
3. Contribute online via credit card by clicking the donate button on Payton's homepage or just click here.
All contributions are tax deductible, and all amounts are equally appreciated. |
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lsc meetings are open, next is 12/10
| Parents, guardians, and the public are welcome at Local School Council (LSC) meetings, which are held monthly in the Payton Library at 6PM.
The LSC is an elected body that has three main responsibilities: 1) School improvement planning (CIWP), 2) School budget, and 3) Principal evaluation, retention and selection.
All are welcome to attend and to comment during the "Public Comments" portion of the meeting.
For more on the LSC, including a schedule of coming meetings, minutes of previous meetings, and a roster of members, please visit the LSC page of the Payton website.
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two more ways to
to stay current
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Check the school website periodically (some people set a reminder on their calendars to do this once or twice a week) at www.wpcp.org.
Two other ways to keep up on what's happening at school are to: watch the PNN (Payton News Network) OR check Advisory Announcements.
You can also subscribe to receive the announcements via email or RSS.
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check grades + attendance online
| ParentConnection is a secure online portal for sharing classroom attendance and grades between teachers, students, and parents and guardians.
To activate a student on your ParentConnection account you must obtain the student personal identification number (PIN), which you can do on this web page on the Payton site.
Once you have obtained the PIN you will be able to complete the application process. If you experience any problems while looking up a PIN, please email parentconnection@wpcp.org.
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when your student is sick or absent for another reason
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You must call the Attendance Hotline early in the morning of your student's absence: 773-534-0042.
Students must also submit a written note upon returning to school. Click here for Reason for Absence Note
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gallery 34: pictures from payton
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Find great photos of Payton happenings at Gallery 34. It is continually updated.
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connect with alumni from payton + other cps schools
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Did you know that there are more than three million living CPS alumni? Click on this link to register and find old friends: CPS Alumni (including Payton).
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share stories and ideas for this newsletter
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Please send us current Payton news to share with other Payton families. Here are the submission guidelines:
Less is more -- 200 words or less works best in an e-newsletter. If that's not enough room to tell the whole story, include a phone number, email address, or web link for more details. Send text as a Word attachment or type it into the body of your email.
Include a picture or two if you have them; send pictures as .jpg attachments, not embedded in a Word document.
All submissions are due the 15th of the preceding month. Send them to
fopnewseditor@gmail.com.
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the newsletter volunteer team
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Casey Hoogstraten
President, Friends of Payton
Katie Merrell
Chair, Communications
Jeanne Lamar
Editor
fopnewseditor@gmail.com
Deb Hass
Associate Editor
Susan McColgan
Associate Editor
Dawn Futris
Steve Gallancy
Kathy Monk
Cathy Nardi
Jennifer Palmert
Debbie Shepard
Lisa Turner
Judith Weinstein
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newsletter
brought to you by
friends of payton
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Friends of Payton (FOP) is a volunteer-run organization of parents, guardians, community leaders, and others who raise funds and provide volunteer assistance to support Walter Payton College Prep.
Our mission is to enrich educational and extracurricular activities with outside resources to supplement the limited funding allotted to Payton through the public school system.
PresidentCasey Hoogstraten Executive Vice President Marla Kushner VP, Communications Katie Merrell VP, Fundraising Cathy Nardi Treasurer Brian Moore Assistant Treasurer Tracey Lowenthal Secretary Laurie Flom
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Fall 2012
Payton Volunteer
Hall of Fame
| On behalf of the Payton community, and especially Payton's students, thank you to the scores of volunteer parents and guardians who continue to be so generous in their contributions of time and talent working on events this year. Thanks also to those who work tirelessly all year with Payton's athletic teams, music groups, clubs, and in the classrooms.
Here are the names of just some of the people who make Payton an exceptional place:
Rene Alvarado
Melissa Ammarell
Linda Annicks
Robert Ball
Jane Barclay
Maria Berglund-Taylor
Susan Bernard
Charles Bernardini
Marie Berry
Tanya Blomquist
Cheryl Bourgeois
Jesse Bouwman
Maurice Brady
Kathy Bresler
Marian Brinker
Mary Buck Young
Deborah Byers
Oscar Carrera
Cathy Chen
Candise Cho
Ruth Clausen
Dana Cohen
Nancy Coletto
Liz Cullen
Eva Daniel
Shelley Daunis
Jean Defrancesco
Susan Diamond Schwartz
Laleen Doerrer
Steve Domsky
Christy Dotson
Deb Einhorn
Monica Esono-Sanchez
Millie Fernandez
Bruce Fogelson
Lori Fogelson
Toni Foster
Dawn Futris
Steve Gallancy
Bob Galowich
Lee Ann Galowich
Eduardo Gasca
Kongit Girma
Julia Goralka
Marianne Grabowski
Marla Gross
Deb Hass
Molly Heilmann
Corey Herbert
Sally Hewitt
Deb Hunter
Steve Jackson
Tina Johnson
Lynn Kalanik
Elena Kamel
Chris Kendrick
Eugene Khaan
Laura King
Robin Labranche
Angela Lampton
Donald Lampton
Dave Laures
Lily Laures
John Lawrence
Kelly Lawrence
Dee Levy
Karen Lewis
Eddie Linker
Susie Linker
Andy Lowenthal
Bob Luczak
LeAnne Luczak
Cyndy Lyons
Lisa Maggiore
Evelyn Marin
Aleksandra Marr
Kymberly Marrinson
Anita Martinez
Efrain Mata
Laura Matalon
Marcia Matalon May
Carmen Maugeri
Kristine May
Angelo Maynard
Karen McKeon
Kathy Monk
Andrea Muchin
Karen Muller
Paula Nowak
Ann Oehring
Susan Orloff
Sheila O'Sullivan
Jose Padilla
Jennifer Palmert
Sharon Perlman
David Pesqueira
Cecilia Piazza
Deborah Pollack
Corina Prada
Treza Price
Christina Ranvik
Michele Richardson
Laura Rombalski
Stefanie Rothman White
Jerry Rozmus
Ginna Ryan
Maria Salgado
Joni Santini
Sheila Schultz
Rachel Shefner
Alan Shepard
Debbie Shepard
Janet Shields
Bonnie Shifrin
Orrin Shifrin
Gail Silver
Gretchen Silver
Amy Silvers
Sara Slaughter
Tom Smith
Robin Steans
Allison Stiefel
Debra Sudworth
Kathy Tallering
May Tang
Crystal Tinucci
Laurie Towne
Lisa Turner
Spencer Waller
Julie Walner
Bether Weiss
Lisa Winger
Liz Xilas
Edna Ybarra
Cindy Zinn
We also want to thank to those many selfless volunteers whose names we hope to learn and include in future columns!
THANK YOU.
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walter payton college prep high school
| 1034 North Wells Street Chicago, Illinois 60610 773-534-0034 www.wpcp.org
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CALENDAR
Some details were not available at the time of this issue's publication. Contact the Payton administration with questions: 312-534-0034
DECEMBER 12/01 Model U.N. AP Conference, 9AM-3PM, 3rd Floor 12/05 Seminar Day 12/05 Payton Community Meeting, 6-7:30PM, Library 12/07 Instrumental Music Winter Concert, 7-9:30PM, Recital Hall 12/10 Local School Council Meeting, 6-8PM, Library 12/13 Junior Parent College Night, 6-7:30PM, Recital Hall 12/14 Choir Winter Concert, 7-9:30PM, Recital Hall 12/21 Seminar Day 12/21 3rd Annual College Fair (with Payton Alumni), 12-2PM Gymnasium 12/24-01/02 No School, Winter break
JANUARY 01/09 Seminar Day 01/09 Payton Community Meeting, 6-7:30PM, Library 01/10 Freshmen Parent Symposium, 6-7:30PM, Recital Hall 01/14 Local School Council Meeting, 6-8PM, Library 01/21 No School, Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday 01/25-30 Finals 01/31 Seminar Day
*PLEASE NOTE: Throughout the year, the Payton calendar may differ from the online Chicago Public Schools calendar. For the Payton calendar, please click
here.
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A LETTER FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Success and Thanks!
Payton Parents and Guardians,
Payton is a remarkable place. The data tell a compelling story: we again have been rated one of the top high schools in Illinois by multiple rating entities; we have 10 National Merit Semifinalists; all of our Fall varsity sports teams made it to the city and/or state playoffs; Payton has one of the highest percentages of National Board certified teachers in the state; our science and math programs have been rated in the top 50 nationally; our students took well over 1,000 Advanced Placement exams in the Spring, with a supra-majority of the students earning 3+ on the exams; our class of 2012 earned over $11 million in collegiate scholarships, and; in the past few years, Payton students have availed themselves of opportunity to travel with Payton teachers on 23 trips abroad. Yes. The data are part of a dynamic story; an outcome of the blended talents of compelled and compelling students, an expert faculty, and wonderfully-supportive parents.
As for the parents...thank you! Thank you, first, for sharing your children with us, for it is our joy to have the opportunity to help their evolutions from childhood to young adulthood. And thank you for all that you do to make Payton such a wonderfully vibrant place of teaching and learning. Specifically, thank you one and all for your very generous financial support during the Fall Appeal; the accumulated funds will support many important components of Payton's programs. And thank you, too, for the time and thoughtfulness so many of you have given by assisting with courses, Seminars, enrichments, athletic and extracurricular events, main office activities, and special events (e.g. Open House, Parent-Teacher Conferences, The Odyssey). Your efforts are important, noticed, well-received, and, frankly, necessary to the ongoing health of our Payton community. Thank you!.
I encourage you to continue to put your fingerprints all over the school as we carry on in our efforts to enhance and optimize the Payton experience.
Go Grizzlies,
Tim Devine, Principal
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Payton Community News
PARTICIPATE
Payton Community Meeting: Dec. 5. Come hear what's happening at school from Principal Tim Devine, and ask questions.
Junior Parent College Night: Dec. 13. Parents of the class of 2014, this is the place for you. Come learn how to help guide your child through the college search and admissions process, presented by the Counseling Department.
Music Concerts: Dec. 7 and 14. Whether or not your child plays an instrument or sings in the choir, these concerts are a great way to celebrate our school and the holiday season.
SPORTS! The Grizzlies are going wild -- there are basketball games and bowling tournaments every day in December! Check one out or visit the Athletic Calendar for more sports options.
VOLUNTEER
Team Parents: If your child is on a winter team, consider serving as a team parent to support our hardworking coaches and athletes. Ask your children's coaches if they need help!
Gala: The Gala team is still looking for folks interested in helping with all aspects of the Mar. 16 event. Click here for a list of jobs, or send a note to FOPFundraising@gmail.com
Much More: There will be more volunteer needs after the winter break -- click here to see a list of opportunities if you want to plan ahead, or send a note to FriendsofPayton@gmail.com to volunteer.
DONATE
The Fall Appeal is winding down, but you can still click to give.
Gala Auction: Donate or solicit items for the gala auction. Click here to get a form, or contact FOPFundraising@gmail.com.
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ATTENTION CLASS OF 2013
Payton Seniors WebpageThe redesigned Payton website now includes a Senior Information page that allows students and their families to keep up with the graduation plans and events for the class of 2013. Ms. Michelle Mowery (English) is the Senior Event Coordinator and will maintain the page and post current Senior news, calendar events, and activities. The page can be located in the Student Life drop down menu on the Payton website. Or click here to go directly to the page.
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CLUBS, TEAMS, ENRICHMENT
Payton Best Buddies
One of the enrichment options available to Payton students is the Best Buddies program, which meets every Tues. It is supervised by Ms. Blair Botti (Social Studies), Ms. Sarah Spencer (Special Education), and Julie Merrell (JR) is the Chapter President. The program is affiliated with Best Buddies Illinois, a nonprofit organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Payton Best Buddies' mission is to provide students with disabilities and their non-disabled peers an opportunity for social interaction with each other during the school day using structured activities that promote communication, art, relationship development, volunteerism, and recreation. Because the program is always full to capacity, it has relocated to the cafeteria to accommodate more members. This year's Best Buddies events have included: -September: Introduction to Best Buddies, training boot camp, "All about me" craft board project, and Meet Your Match (a potluck and "buddy pair v. buddy pair" Wii tournament). -October: Plan and shop for food and costumes, photo booth on iPads, make decorations for the Harvest Hoe Down, Costume Party, and Puzzle Pallooza. -November: Turkey art project, Give Thanks Potluck, and Bingo Madness.
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Fundraising News
Mark Your Calendars! The Spring Gala is set for Mar. 16, 2013, at Galleria Marchetti. Come celebrate Payton and support our outstanding teachers, talented students and exceptional programs. For more information click here. Volunteer opportunities requiring various time commitments and skills abound. Please click here, or call Cathy Nardi at 773-665-1816 and help make the Gala a success. Here are some of the Gala volunteer opportunities:
-Solicit Merchandise: Help find items to sell in the various auction categories: Entertainment; Sporting Events & Memorabilia; Dining & Gourmet; Classes & Memberships; Home & Family; Health and Fitness; Fashion & Beauty; Faculty & Students. Solicitation forms can be downloaded by clicking here.
Sell Program Ads: Over 400 people will see the Gala Program Book! We need volunteers to sell ads to businesses, parents and guardians.
Sell Raffle Tickets: Sell tickets for the Gala 50/50 Cash Raffle.
On Line Auction: Help run the online auction, which starts in Feb. and kicks off Gala fundraising.
Event Staffing: Volunteer to help with decorations, music, set-up, check-in, check-out, Paddle Raise and more!
Thanks to all who donated to the FOP/PPIE Fall Appeal. To date, FOP has raised almost $60,000. Thanks also to the phone-a-thon volunteers who spoke with hundreds of Payton families. It's not too late to support the campaign with your donation by clicking here.
Thanks to all who purchased items from the Teacher Wish List during Report Card Pickup, and the volunteers who enabled us to collect over $5,700 worth of items for teachers and classrooms.
Next Meeting - Please come! The next meeting is on Dec. 5 at 7PM after the Payton Community Meeting. We hope to see you there and involved with the Gala.
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THE PATH TO GRADUATION
New CPS Service Learning RequirementsChicago Public Schools (CPS) has changed the high school service learning requirements. The new requirements focus on completion of service projects rather than service hours. The new rules do not apply to seniors or juniors; those students must still complete 40 service hours in order to graduate. Current freshmen and sophomores must complete 3 projects over 4 years in order to graduate. CPS will convert service hours already recorded for current freshmen and sophomores. Transcripts will continue to show the hours and will soon include the projects. The CPS criteria for service projects are as follows: Projects must have a clear content connection to classroom curriculum. For example, students completing service projects in a Biology class need to connect the project to the study of Biology. Service projects must include an action component, and must be done in collaboration with an approved non-proft organization or have the approval of a teacher and the service learning coach, Ms. Sarah Spencer (Special Education). Each project must involve a minimum of 15 hours, including time spent investigating the project, preparing the work, performing the activity, and the logging post-activity reflections. All projects must include a learning and research component. For classroom projects, the teacher will incorporate the research component into the project. For individual and small group projects, the research section should include a description of the problem addressed, the community organization or process addressing the problem, information on the dimensions of the problem, a description and analysis of work completed by the student, an example of at least one policy impacting the problem or a policy recommendation to address the problem, and at least four independent research resources. All projects must have a reflection component. For classroom projects, a teacher can assign a reflection activity. For individual or small group projects, the student should complete a reflection essay or other form of reflection as an attachment to their research. Students may complete these projects in their classes, through extra-curricular activities, or on their own. CPS provided the following examples of potential service projects: *Read Mice and Men in English class, then visit a center for individuals with disabilities and provide service and support to them; *Study the Constitution, then design a children's book or other activity to teach children about the Constitution; *Investigate biodiversity and ecosystems in Biology class, then visit a wetland and perform stewardship work; or, *Study climate change, then conduct a carbon audit of a building, calculating its carbon emissions, and devise a plan to reduce the emissions. CPS does not permit service learning activities for which a student is paid, or which are done on behalf of a for-profit enterprise, or which promote a particular religious faith. Parents and student can contact Ms. Spencer with any questions at SKSpencer@cps.edu. |
COMMUNICATION UPDATE
Payton Website:
A Family Resource!
Our new user-friendly website includes a Parents drop down menu that directs Payton families to information they need. Just click the Parent tab at the top of the Payton homepage, and then select the Parent/Guardian Info choice on the drop down menu. Ms. Katie Merrell, a Friends of Payton Board member was responsible for the changes, described the new design as a "dashboard of the main topics of interest to parents and guardians." Topics include information about the school and access links to other site resources such as the calendar, staff contacts, and student absence forms.
The Supporting Our School column provides news about how parents and guardians can participate in upcoming school events, volunteer during the academic year, and donate to Payton using easy and convenient links. The pages are regularly updated with content offering parents and guardians the most comprehensive and current information available. Suggestions for improving, adding to, or correcting any errors in the Parent pages are welcome! Click here to send your comments.
Finally, Payton families can watch daily PNN (Payton News Network) broadcasts by clicking on the announcements window on the main page of the website, and then clicking Payton News Network in the left column. PNN is both a broadcast class and an enrichment, so many Payton students participate in the production.
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GLOBAL CONNECTIONS
Exchange Highlights and Student News
Exchange Highlights: Prague and Osaka Both the Prague and Osaka exchanges that took place in October were a huge success. Take a look at the online photo blogs highlighting both visits by clicking these links: Prague Exchange and Osaka Exchange. Here is a peek at Payton's welcome to visiting Czech students: 
 Chicago Council on Global Affairs On Thurs. Nov. 15 six students from Payton's International Club and Spanish classes were invited to a presentation by Cely Suárez, Ecuadorian Ambassador to the U.S. It was a wonderful experience for students and faculty alike. To learn more, click: Cely Suarez . Payton and AMIGOS The Spanish Department is pleased to announce that four Payton students will participate in the AMIGOS de las Americas program this summer. They are Angelic Lopez (JR), Caeley Harihara (soph), Adan Soriano (soph), and Isabella Yeung (JR). Amigos de las Américas is a summer abroad, service learning program for high school and college students. The program empowers young adults to grow as leaders and increase their multi-cultural understanding through training and community service projects in Latin America. Congratulations to this year's Payton AMIGOS volunteers! Otra Cosa Network Video Conference On Nov. 28 students were invited to attend a video conference with the director of Otra Cosa Network (OCN), a Peruvian non-profit organization that helps connect international volunteers with projects in the Peruvian town of Huanchaco. OCN staff discussed its summer program for teens. More information and application materials will be made available in December on the WPCP Global Connections Message Board.
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 SPORTS
Grrrizzlies Kickoff
Winter Season!
The winter sports season is just getting started. Payton teams will sport several new coaches taking the helm, and an action packed scheduled is just ahead!
Bowling (Boys, Girls): Starting the season with new coaches, Mr. Kuchii (boys) and Mr. Escobar (girls), Payton's high rollers are looking to knock down more than a few pins in the coming months. Last season, both the girls and boys ranked first in their conferences, so we're looking forward to another exciting season. Matches ahead are scheduled at the Waveland and Habetler Lanes.
Basketball (Boys): With a 2-2 record in non-conference play, the Grizzlies are off to a great start, lead by a new coach, Anthony Ciaravino. Mr. Ciaravino played hoops at De La Salle High School and at UW-Green Bay; he is a veteran coach for teams at many levels and has also run many successful basketball camps.
Basketball (Girls): Shouts go out to the Lady Grizzlies, who triumphed over Lincoln Park High School in their first conference game.
Other winter sports commencing their seasons include boys swimming and girls and boys track and field. We're looking for team parents to report on these season. Email Sports Editor Steve Gallancy to volunteer your journalistic talents.
In other sports news, the girls' soccer team has a new varsity coach this spring, Mr. Ante Cop. Mr. Cop coached the girls junior varsity team last year, leading them to the City J.V. Championship. Mr. Cop is a graduate of Mt. Carmel High School and Southern New Hampshire College, and has played professional soccer. He has coached all levels of soccer from youth leagues to college play.
Stay tuned for updates here. Check Payton's website for team information and schedules.
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 FINE ARTS AT PAYTON
Winter Concerts and Holiday Performances
The cold weather is rolling in, which means a busy season for the Music department. The Harold Washington Library will again host free holiday concerts in its Grand Lobby at 400 S. State Street. This year Payton's Sound of Sweetness (SOS) has been invited to perform at noon on Mon. Dec. 3.
On Sun. Dec. 9, The Art Institute of Chicago invites families with children ages 4-10 to participate in its 31st annual Treasure Hunt and Tea Party. Pieces of Perfection (POP) will perform at 11:50AM. SOS has two performances, at 12:25PM and at 2:10PM. The Concert Choir wraps up Payton's performances at 2:45PM. The event admission is $10 and may be purchased online at AIC. Use the Modern Wing entrance for the event. SOS will also provide entertainment at two corporate luncheons; on Mon. Dec. 17 in the lobby at 500 W. Monroe, and on Thurs. Dec. 20 in the lobby at 35 W. Wacker. Both performances will run from 12:00-1:30PM.
Come enjoy our winter concerts in the Payton Recital Hall. The Instrumental Winter Concert will be held on Fri., Dec. 7 at 7PM. Admission is $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for senior citizens and students. Glen Rode (Music) will lead the Chamber Strings, Concert Band and Payton Jazz Orchestra for this very special evening. Kathleen Johnston (Music) will host the Winter Choral Concert on Fri., Dec. 14 from 7-9:30PM.
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NEXT MEETING ON DECEMBER 10
LSC Report
At the Local School Council meeting on November 5, presentations from the World Language and Math department chairs highlighted instructional improvements, faculty professional development achievements, and the opportunities for student growth provided by our new enrichment program. Ms. Alicia Gonzales (World Languages) and Mr. Scott Galston (Math) enthusiastically recounted the creative ideas and projects underway in their respective departments.
Mr. Devine has met with Mayor Emanuel and discussed Payton's Global Connections program. Mayor Emanuel proposed linking Payton to countries with consulates in Chicago, specifically those countries with which Payton has sister-schools, or countries involved in Payton student travel programs. The prospect of consulate representatives participating in enrichment programs is being explored.
CPS has rolled out a major change to the Service Learning graduation requirements (see article above) that affects current freshman and sophomore students by adopting a program-based service requirement, replacing the 40 service hour program formerly in effect. Mr. Devine reported another system-wide change in CPS's decision to change its school budgeting mechanism, moving away from the quota system of funding teaching positions to a per-pupil spending basis.
Please come to the next LSC meeting on Mon. Dec. 10 at 6PM.
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