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masthead 12
 

payton community monthly meeting

      9/03             

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 6:15PM. They are generally held on the first Wednesday of every month, but always check the monthly calendar (at right) in case the schedule has changed. At press time, this year's meeting schedule is as follows:
9/3, 10/1, 11/5, 12/3, 1/7, 2/4, 3/4, 4/1, 5/6, 6/3.

 

All meetings are held in the Library. 

fop fundraising is

a year-round effort  

The Friends of Payton needs your valuable donations to support Payton's educational mission There are three ways to do it:

1. Mail a check payable to FOP at 1034 N. Wells St., Chicago, IL 60610  

 

2. Drop a check into the FOP box in the school office. Make it payable to FOP.

 

3. Contribute online via credit card by clicking the donate button on Payton's homepage. All contributions are tax deductible and all amounts are equally appreciated. 

lsc meetings are
 open, next is 9/8

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: School Budget, Continuous Improvement Work Plan (formerly SIPAAA), and Principal Evaluation, Retention and Selection.

 

All are welcome to attend and to make comments during the "Public Comments" portion of the meeting.

 

For more on the LSC, including a schedule of upcoming meetings, minutes of previous meetings, and a roster of members, please visit the LSC page of the Payton website.

two more ways to  
stay current

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.
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 sites.

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

when your student is sick or absent  for another reason
To report your student's absence you must submit a written note, available on the website under the Parents drop down menu. Or you may click here for Reason For Absence Note. Student absences will remain unexcused until a signed Reason For Absence Note is submitted to the Office.
gallery 34: payton in pictures

Find great photos of Payton happenings at Gallery 34. It is continually updated.

payton alumni
Please go to

www.wpcp.org/alumni for current news on Payton Alumni Association activities.

share stories and ideas for this newsletter 

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 to give our readers 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, do not embed them in your Word document.

All submissions are due the 25th of the preceding month. Send them to: fopnewseditor@gmail.com 

the pptw
newsletter team

Marla Gross
President, Friends of Payton

Marcia Matalon May
VP, FOP Communications

Jeanne Lamar
Editor

Deb Hass
Associate Editor

Susan McColgan
Associate Editor

Steve Gallancy
Sports Editor

Barb McHugh

Susan Pearsall

Erin Schertler

Marion Shuck

Jill Wohl
newsletter 

brought to you by friends of payton 

Friends of Payton (FOP)

is a volunteer-run organization that includes all of the parents and guardians of current Payton students. We 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.
President
Marla Gross
 
Executive Vice President
Andrea Mularczyk

VP, Communications
Marcia Matalon May
 
VP, Fundraising 
Candise Cho
 
Treasurer 
Tracey Lowenthal

Assistant Treasurer
Dina Isaacs
 
Secretary 
Lynn Brahin
walter payton college prep high school
1034 North Wells Street
Chicago, Illinois  60610
773-534-0034
THE SEPTEMBER 2014 ISSUE
Calendar
A Letter From the Principal
Participate Volunteer Donate
Welcome New Faculty: Ms. Mahoney
FOP's New President
FOP Funds in the Classroom
Save the Date: Fall Parents Night Out
Welcome New Faculty: Ms. Person
National Honor Society Fall Book Drive
Welcome New Faculty: Mr. Walker
Fine Arts
Fall Sports Udate
CALENDAR
Some details were not available at the time of this issue's publication. Contact the Payton administration with questions: 312-534-0034.
 

SEPTEMBER

9/01            No School - Labor Day

9/02            First Day of School for Students

9/03            Payton Community Meeting, 6:15-8PM, Library

9/08            LSC Meeting, 6-8PM, Literacy Center

9/16            Curriculum Night, 5:45PM

9/17            Seminar Day

9/22            Senior Parents College Night, 6:30-8PM, Recital Hall  

9/25            University of Kentucky College Fair, 6:30PM, Recital Hall

9/27            Homecoming Game, 1PM, Lane Tech High School

9/27            Homecoming Dance, 6-10PM, Payton Atrium

9/29            Yale University Information Session, 6:30PM, Recital Hall

 

OCTOBER

10/01           Payton Community Meeting, 6:15-8PM, Library

10/01           Seminar Day 

10/06           LSC Meeting, 6-8PM, Literacy Center

10/13           No School - Columbus Day

10/15           Seminar Day

10/15           PSAT, 8AM, 3rd Floor Atrium

10/17           FOP Parent Night Out - 6:30-9PM, (see article) 

10/29           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. 

A LETTER FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Welcome to Payton!

 

 

 

Dear Payton Parents and Guardians,

 

Welcome back to our parents and guardians of seniors, juniors, and sophomores, and a warm welcome to our freshmen parents! We are eager for the academic year to begin. Last week I sent a note to your children and I share some of it with you here. Consider this the "Parents Highlights Version." I would be happy to send you the full-length letter or you can ask your child to see a copy.

 

Importantly, thank you...a deep and wholehearted thank you...to the dozens upon dozens of you who did so much in recent weeks and months to help with registration, orientation, fundraising, and getting many athletic and academic programs started. Your time and talents are recognized and very much appreciated. We look forward to having even more parents and guardians share time and volunteer talents with us as the year progresses.

 

Sincerely,

Tim Devine, Principal 

 

Dear Payton students,

I hope/trust that this finds you and your family well, with many recent summer adventures that will fill your memory book and that you have forged deeper or new bonds with your family and friends. And here we are now, on the threshold of the academic year which brings with it much excitement and anticipation for what is to come...new courses, new teachers, and new experiences.

 

As you launch into these new experiences, I ask that you embed our 4Cs-courage, compassion, curiosity, and character-into your daily habits. Why? Because these traits are elemental to a life well-lived...By many measure, the 4Cs are some good tools to have honed into your daily habits. I suspect they will serve you well this year at Payton and throughout life...

 

...[A]s we commence our time together, please know that you are not alone on your journeys this year (or ever). You have as part of your team some rather extraordinary people who care deeply about you and your development...Our faculty are here to teach you more than reading, writing, and arithmetic. They are here to help you navigate that journey from childhood to young adulthood. Always feel free to reach out to them for guidance on academic or any other matters.

 

I am excited to announce our new faculty members: Benjamin Walker (Math), Sara Mahoney (Math; Payton Class of '05), Kathryn Person (Social Studies), Jenny O'Neil (Spanish), Frank Ray (Special Education), Kelly Koeppen (English), Mary Grubich (Clerk), Casey Bowles (Counseling), Celestine Grev (Social Studies), Elisa Foshay (Dance), Ashley Greer (Counseling). Each will add to an already vibrant and skillful faculty, with whom we are all fortunate to share our Payton journey.

 

On behalf of our faculty and staff, and certainly myself, it is an honor to serve you.

 

Go Grizzlies!

Tim Devine, Principal

Payton Community News

 

PARTICIPATE

Sept. 3: Payton Community Meeting, 6:15PM, Library

Sept. 8: Local School Council Meeting, 6PM, Library

Sept. 16: Curriculum Night, 5:45PM

 

VOLUNTEER

Sept. 16: Curriculum Night: help with Wish Lists, volunteer sign-ups, and refreshments before, and after the class presentations, and during 'lunch period'

Oct. 17: Parents Night Out: help with set up or clean up or by bringing some paper goods,etc.

Always: Fundraising! The fundraising team is forming. It needs your help in big and small ways. 

 

Please email FriendsofPayton@gmail.com if you would like to help with these or other activities.

 

DONATE  

FOP will launch the Annual Appeal in a few weeks. Please consider making a contribution as the Payton community continues its work to restore programs and services lost to the CPS budget cuts.

Meet Teacher Logo NEW PAYTON FACULTY
Mathematics:
Ms. Sarah Mahoney 



This fall, Ms. Sara Mahoney ('05) joins the Math faculty where she will teach Geometry and AP Calculus AB. Ms. Mahoney is a proud member (and valedictorian) of the second graduating class of Payton Prep. "There's no other school like Payton," she enthuses, adding that she's looking forward to experiencing teacher collaboration and getting a new perspective on nuturing the entire student.

 

Most recently Ms. Mahoney taught Algebra, Geometry and Calculus to high school students at Gary Comer College Prep and North Lawndale College Prep. This former Grizzly earned her BA in Sociology at The University of Chicago, and later returned to earn an MA in Secondary Mathematics at The University of Chicago Urban Teacher Education Program (UTEP), where she studied for a second time under her former teacher, and former Payton Math department chair, Douglas O'Roark.

 

Even before teaching, Ms. Mahoney's career and studies focused on education. As an undergraduate she tutored math and worked on high school math textbooks. After graduation she enlisted as an Americorps VISTA at an early literacy nonprofit, followed by serving as a teaching assistant and office manager of a highly-respected math and science certification program for middle school teachers.

 

Ms. Mahoney and her fiance Brendan enjoy traveling, cooking, and their newly adopted shelter dogs, Max and Molly.

auctionFOP
Introducing FOP's New President, Marla Gross

Welcome to the new school year! My name is Marla Gross and this is my first year as Friends of Payton (FOP) president. My daughter is a junior, and early in her freshman year I decided to volunteer to learn more about her high school experience. Through FOP I found many opportunities, and I hope you do too.

FOP is our all-volunteer parent organization. By virtue of having a student here, all parents and guardians are member of FOP, and no dues are required. However, to support Payton, you can participate in activities, volunteer at school functions, and donate to our school's needs.

In addition, please attend our FOP monthly community meetings - it's your chance to hear Principal Devine share information about the school and answer your questions. FOP community meetings are held the first Wednesday of every month - the first one of the school year is on Wed., Sept. 3.

On a social note, please join your fellow Payton parents and guardians in a parent tradition -  Parents Night Out (PNO). These events are held twice during the school year and each one is hosted by a Payton parent. It's a great way to begin the school year, meet new parents and reconnect with old ones. The first PNO is Fri. Oct. 17. I will be there as will other members of the FOP Board, and we hope to meet you.

Looking forward to a fantastic 2014-2015 school year!
magic wand
FOP IN THE CLASSROOM

Make a Teacher's Wish  

Come True 

 

 

 

The Friends of Payton (FOP) Teachers' Wish List includes specific items that will enhance a faculty member's class, a department program, or items not covered in the budget. Examples of projects funded through the Wish List include volumetric flasks, travel guide books, AP test review books, and planetarium upgrades. Gifts of all sizes are appreciated! Payton parents and guardians, alumni, and community members will have the opportunity to donate all or a portion of the cost of specific items at four Teachers' Wish List events this school year:

 

Sept. 16 - Curriculum Night

Nov. 13 - Report Card Pickup

Mar. 28 - The Annual Gala 

Apr. 15. - Report Card Pickup

 

Wishlist Volunteer Opportunity! In addition to these four events, FOP would like to increase your chances to participate in the Teachers' Wish List by creating an on-line presence. If you have site-building skills and would like to be involved in this project, please contact Katie Fairbank - mkfairbank@gmail.com or email FOPFundraising@gmail.com.

SaveTheDate PAYTON PARENTS AND GUARDIANS
Fall Parents Night Out
Save the Date: 10/17 


Don't miss Payton's Fall Parents Night Out, to be held on Fri. Oct. 17 at the home of Dina and Robert Gallay, 3522 N. Hamilton. Parents Nights Out are informal potluck dinners hosted by Payton families. They are for parents and guardians only - no kids! Please bring a dish to share (appetizer, entrée or dessert). BYOB. Everything else is provided. 

Contact Marcia May by email or phone (312-919-0020) if you want to volunteer to help with set up or clean up, or if you would like to bring party supplies.

Hope to see you there!
Meet Teacher Logo NEW PAYTON FACULTY
Social Studies:
Ms. Kathryn Person 



A warm Grizzly welcome to Ms. Kathryn Person who has joined the Payton Social Studies team. Ms. Person earned a BA at Indiana University, where she majored in Economics, and minored in Music and Business. Following graduation, she worked for Arthur Andersen as a tax consultant. She went on to work for Deloitte, and while working for it in Belgium, she earned her MS in Economics at Catholic University of Leuven. After returning to the states, she continued her education and in 2010 she earned her MAT (Master of Arts in Teaching) in History, at the University of Illinois at Chicago. 

 

She began her teaching career in Budapest, Hungary, where she taught English for a year. She returned to Chicago and took a teaching position at  George Washington High School, a CPS school on the south east side of the city. She spent three years at Washington, teaching a variety of courses. 

 

Ms. Person is very excited to be at Payton, where she will teach six periods of AP Microeconomics this year. As a former student-teacher at Northside, she knew Mr. Belcaster, who taught the course at Payton last year. She was able to spend some quality time with him this summer while she prepared for her new teaching assignment. She is really looking forward to meeting her new students - all 170 of them (!) taking AP Micro this fall.   

 

In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Ms. Person is a member of Payton's Academic Integrity Team. The team works to instill and inspire students with a commitment to ethical academic behavior, and to teach them decision-making strategies for stressful times.  

 

Outside of school, Ms. Person enjoys spending time with her husband (also a Chicago high school teacher) and their toddler son. She loves to cook and spend time outdoors. While she used to do lots of traveling, she currently satisfies that passion by and keeping up with old friends in Hungary and the other foreign lands she's traveled.   

Payton Logo STUDENT SERVICE & ACHIEVEMENT
National Honor Society
Fall Book Drive



The National Honor Society is having a book and school supply drive starting in September. We are asking for books to be age appropriate for 5 to 14 year olds. All of the books will help build a library for Real Men Read, which is a program that has adults of different backgrounds read to elementary students to promote literacy. Their goal is to show that reading is cool no matter what age you are. All of the school supplies will go to KIPP Ascend Primary School, which has many families that do not have the money to buy school supplies for their children. When you are doing summer cleaning, and buying school books and supplies for this coming year, please don't forget about the National Honor Society's book and school supply drive and all the students we can help together.
Meet Teacher Logo NEW PAYTON FACULTY
Mathematics:
Mr. Benjamin Walker 



Payton welcomes new Math faculty member Mr. Benjamin Walker who reports being drawn to mathematics because "it's a beautiful and empowering arena for students to solve their own problems," and because of "its increasing importance in the computer-based era we live in."  Mr. Walker will be teaching Geometry and Precalculus.

 

Mr. Walker earned two degrees in Mathematics and Education from Miami University in Ohio, where he also sang in the Glee Club all four years. As a sophomore, he traveled and studied for a semester in Costa Rica, and during his senior year, he completed his student teaching in a public school on the west side of Chicago. Prior to Payton, he taught Algebra 2 and led the HiMCM (a 36-hour Math competition) teams at Golder College Prep in Noble Square, and was an AmeriCorps Public Allies teaching fellow at Eagle Rock School and Professional Development Center in Colorado.

 

Inside the classroom, Mr. Walker's focus will be on helping the students build a community of risk-taking questioners who take pride in their effort and hard work. Outside the classroom, he's looking forward to the professional push he'll get from his colleagues who he notes, are some of the best math educators around.

 

Mr. Walker and his partner, Katie McCarthy, are enthusiastic CrossFit Athletes, and enjoy traveling, backpacking, and climbing during the summer months. He brings the same intensity to his active endeavors as he does to being involved and supporting the Payton community. School pride is important to Mr. Walker; he already owns four Payton shirts and rides his bike to work with new orange bar tape!

Music color graphic FINE ARTS
Music News:
Fall Auditions



The upcoming year promises to be an exciting one for the Music Department. Mr. Glenn Rode, Director of Bands, welcomes back all new and returning musicians!

 

And get ready to sing! Ms. Kate Johnston, Director of Choirs, will announce the final round of auditions for Sounds of Sweetness (SOS), Payton's male a capella ensemble, the first week of school. Men who are interested should see her in Room 214 and be on the look out for audition days/times.

 

The excitement continues to build. The original members of The Pieces of Perfection (POP), Payton's female vocal group, are in their senior year and have many cool things in store. POP's trailblazing members are writing, producing, and recording brand new music. The revolution is on!

Contact Ms. Michelle Washington, Assistant Principal, for information on how to join.

sports icon
SPORTS UPDATES
Payton Grizzlies Roar Back to the Field
 

 

 

This fall, Payton fields teams in Sailing, Cheerleading, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Pompon, Boys Soccer, Girls Swimming, Girls Volleyball, and Girls Tennis. Check the Payton website frequently for updates. The following teams reported news by press time:

 

Football: The team began its season at the Chicagoland High School Kickoff Classic versus St. Ignatius at Toyota Park on Aug. 31. This year's captains are seniors Owen Bloomfield, Cris Herrera, and Mike Mazurkiewicz, and juniors Joe Droegemueller and Mike Kalanik. After winning the conference championship last year with an 8-1 record, summer practices began in June and continue. Passing leagues (non-contact games) included a return to the Nike Invitational, as well as one at Northern Illinois University and two at St. Xavier University.

 

At the annual Blue and Orange scrimmage and potluck Aug. 23, four players were recognized as Most Improved: Zac Arrizola (soph), Ryann Krull (SR), David Leon (JR), and Zach Wang (soph).

 

The Junior Varsity team added 20 freshmen and will be playing 5-6 games this fall. Catch them at their first conference game at Ag Science on Thur. Sept. 4 at 5PM. Check the Payton website for live streamed game play, and to get the game schedule - or click here. Come on out and cheer on our Grizzlies!

 

Boys Golf: Under head coach Tom Smith and assistant coach Rich Klawiter, the Payton boys and their teammates on the Payton-Jones Golf Team shattered their previous team scoring record in an impressive preseason match Aug. 21 against Lincoln Park High School. The old record of 157 was bettered by a stunning 10 shots as the Payton-Jones team shot 147 to Lincoln Park's team total of 182. Ben Smith (JR), Erica Jackson (JR), and Myah Jackson (frosh) shared match medalist honors with very solid scores of 36. Jack Quinn (JR) exhibited a strong game, rounding out the team scoring with a 39. Gabe Geleerd (SR) shot a nice 40 and Crosby Shores (SR) shot a 45. Those playing on the JV squad also posted solid scores. Bison Carcelli (JR) shot a sizzling 39, while Will Macellaio (JR) came in with a very solid 43.

 

On Aug. 28, the team ran away with the Chicago Invitational at Indian Boundary Golf Course. The winning score of 309 was a whopping 56 strokes ahead of the nearest team score of 365 by Francis Parker. Not only did Payton-Jones win the team trophy, but Payton-Jones players swept the individual titles. Ben Smith won Invitational medalist honors with a 2-over par 74. Erica Jackson and Myah Jackson both shot 77 and Erica was awarded 2nd place by virtue of a scorecard playoff. This is a great start and we look forward to continued improvement and success as the season opens this week Wed. Sept. 3 against Northside.

 

Girls Tennis: Last year, Payton completed its fall season with a winning record, captured second place in the top Chicago Public Schools division as a team, earned a first place medal for our third Doubles Team at the City Individual Tournament, and sent several players to the IHSA Sectional Tournaments. Led again this season by Coach Jean Casserly, this year's team has a strong, experienced line-up with six returning seniors, two juniors, three sophomores and has added two talented freshmen, Jessie Mitchell and Ana Silberg.

 

On Aug. 27, in its first match of the season, the team dealt a decisive 7-1 defeat to the Francis Parker School. The Lady Grizzlies will face Lincoln Park HS on Sept. 4 for the opening conference tournament of the season. A quick succession of Sept. matches follows against Whitney Young, Lane, Jones, Morgan Park, Lincoln Park, and Northside. CPS championships and post-season play begin in Oct.Catch the action and some gorgeous fall weather courtside this season!

 

Parent & Students: We need correspondents "on the ground" to report scores, highlights and other sports news for PPTW. Parents who regularly attend games and like to spread the word - and a students who wants to add "sports reporter" to your list of extra curriculars - can volunteer to to write a full section or just text message results and highlights by contacting Steve Gallancy at  steve.gallancy@gmail.com or Jeanne Lamar at jmlamar@aol.com.