|
friends of payton monthly community meeting
11/03
| |
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 Tuesday 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: 9/9, 10/6, 11/3, 12/1, 1/5, 2/2, 3/1, 4/5, 5/3, 6/7
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 11/18
| |
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 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
|
|
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
Deb Hass
Associate Editor
Susan McColgan
Associate Editor
Carter Smith
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
VPs, Fundraising
Moira Saliba
Kathy Schutz
Treasurer
Tracey Lowenthal
Assistant Treasurer
Linda Clark
Secretary
Lynn Brahin
|
|
walter payton college prep high school
| |
1034 North Wells Street
Chicago, Illinois 60610
773-534-0034
|
|
|
|
|
CALENDAR
Some details were not available at the time of this issue's publication. Contact the Payton administration with questions: 312-534-0034.
11/03 Friends of Payton Community Meeting, 6:15-7PM, Library
11/04 Seminar Day
11/06-7 School Play: 1984, 6-8PM, Recital Hall
11/11 No School, Veteran's Day
11/12-14 School Play: 1984, 6-8PM, Recital Hall
11/13 No School, School Improvement Day
11/14 Open House, 9AM-1PM, Atrium
11/14 ACT Practice Test, 1-4:30PM
11/16 Payton Booster Association Meeting, 6-7PM, Library
11/18 Local School Council Meeting, 6-8PM, Library
11/19 No School, Parent Teacher Conferences
11/25-27 No School, Thanksgiving Holiday
12/01 Friends of Payton Community Meeting, 6:15-8PM, Library
12/02 Seminar Day
12/04 Winter Instrumental Concert, 7-10PM, Recital Hall
12/09 Beginning Choirs Winter Concert, 7-9PM, Recital Hall
12/09 Local School Council Meeting, 6-8PM, Literacy Center
12/11 Advanced Choirs Winter Concert, TBD, Recital Hall
12/14 Junior Parent College Night, 6:30-8PM, Recital Hall
12/15 Payton Booster Association Meeting, 6-7PM, Library
12/16 Winter Dance Concert, TBD, Recital Hall
12/17 Talent Show, 5-8PM, Recital Hall
12/18 Seminar Day
12/21-1/03 No School, Winter Break
*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
Continuing Advocacy for
Our Children's Education
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Payton remains a beehive of activity. Our students and faculty work together each day in our varied learning spaces-Advisory, classes, Enrichments, and Seminars-on activities designed to continue the emergence of students' mindsets. Quite compelling things occur each day on our campus, with the intent of aiding students' academic, social, and emotional development. Payton is a special place...not a perfect place (no human organization is), but we are replete with compelled and compelling students, exceptional faculty, and supportive parents. As you know well, fundamental elements of these relationships between students and teachers are being threatened with continued inaction by our elected officials and, as a result, our students and students throughout the CPS will be relegated to lesser opportunities than their peers in suburban and out-state school districts.
Payton's letter-writing campaign was widespread, with many students, faculty, and parents taking part. That effort has now spread to many, many other CPS schools. A few hundred students engaged in a study-in. Many, many students continue to engage in the goal of getting elected officials to address education funding inequities in short order (Illinois is now 4 months without a budget). I ask you to work towards this goal on behalf of our children - I use that plural pronoun because we have shared love and responsibility for our 888 Payton students and, in my estimation, the values of our Payton community extend beyond the campus of 1034 N. Wells. Thus we need to wrap our arms around and advocate for students throughout CPS and encourage them and parents throughout Chicago to do the same. Please continue to call, e-mail, and visit with your elected officials - city or state-level officials, whomever you determine has a strong voice in changing education funding practices - and keep doing so until an equitable resolution comes. Please remain committed to these purposes, lest the people and programs of Payton and all CPS schools become negatively impacted in the very near future.
I apologize...I apologize that our energies and attention are needed to be directed to unsavory, stressful, and difficult matters. Like you, I would prefer that our collective efforts remain squarely on other needs of our wonderful children. That said, if we are successful in getting education funding inequities addressed, perhaps we won't have to go through these regular budget battles and will be freed to keep our eyes more focused on other dynamics of the learning needs of students.
Thank you for all that you do and for all that you are.
Go Grizzlies!
Tim Devine, Principal
|
 Payton Community News
PARTICIPATE
Nov. 3: Friends of Payton Community Meeting with Principal Tim Devine, 6:15-7PM in the Library. Spring Gala Meeting to follow.
VOLUNTEER
Nov. 14: Payton Open House for prospective students, 7:30AM-1:30PM. Lots of volunteers needed for various jobs. Please email both Deborah Pollack and Amy Kaplan if you are available.
Nov. 19: Report Card Pick Up, 11:30AM-6:30PM. Sign up for a one-hour shift (or several!) to help with refreshments, teacher wish list, spirit wear, and teacher lunch. Click here to volunteer!
Now: the Fundraising team is up and running and has a variety of volunteer needs. Email FOPfundraising to volunteer.
DONATE
Annual Appeal: Please consider contributing to the FOP Appeal: support the current needs of Payton students and teachers and fund programs and services lost to CPS budget cuts.
Teacher Wishlist: Available during Report Card Pick-up, and online: click here!
|
 NEW PAYTON FACULTY
Director of Student Engagement, Dr. Erica Bauer
Payton welcomes Dr. Erica Bauer, who steps into the new position of Director of Student Engagement. Dr. Bauer will work with students to help them lead engaged lives within self, school, and society. She will oversee the identification of students struggling academically and/or socially-emotionally and provide them with the support they need. Dr. Bauer would like to create space within our community for all voices to be heard and is thrilled to have an opportunity to do this work at Payton.
Dr. Bauer received her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Communication from the University of Dayton. She went on to earn a doctoral degree in the same field, with an emphasis in Health Communication, from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. A post-doctoral fellowship in Health Services Research brought her to Chicago. She realized that her professional passion was in education when Mr. D'Andre Weaver, former Payton Assistant Principal, hired her at Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy as Director of Admissions, Community Engagement, and External Partnerships. She held this position from 2012 to 2015. Dr. Bauer will lead an enrichment and a seminar this year. Her enrichment incorporates The Five Minute Journal, and then provides students with the opportunity to discuss their entries with the class. In her seminar "Living Out Loud" she partners with Ms. Candice Collins, a licensed therapist, to engage students in meaningful activities that promote self-reflection, vulnerability, and the power of sharing your story. She sums this up as bridging the intellectual and emotional, connecting the head and the heart. Dr. Bauer enjoys spending time with her husband, cooking, blogging, and co-hosting a podcast called Fed Up? Now What!, where she discusses trending topics, culture, and issues of equality.
Please welcome Dr. Bauer to Payton!
|
CHICAGO SPORTS CULTURE
Payton's 16" Softball Team: City Champions and Part of a Chicago Tradition
The fact that a 16" softball ball does not travel "too far" when hit is an important factor that has contributed to the game's popularity and longevity in Chicago. Even more importantly, it can be played in a smaller area, with just a bat and a ball (no gloves), so the game became popular during the Depression - when a ball cost a dime. And thus, 16" softball became a treasured part of Chicago's cultural and sporting landscape.
The Payton Grizzlies 16" Softball Team had a fantastic year and is thrilled to announce it clinched the Chicago Public League Championship for the 2015 season. This 2015 Grizzly team had twenty enthusiastic Payton student-athletes, all of whom thoroughly enjoyed their successful season. Their ride to the championship was led by Coach Valerie Gemskie, Senior Co-Captains Ian Kidwell, Michael May, and Leo Pellegrini, as well as fellow senior-slugger, Nate Sutka. The Grizzlies' playoff and championship victories included hard-earned wins over Northside Prep, Chicago Ag. Science, and Solorio.
Many thanks to Coach Gemskie for a fantastic 2015 championship season and congratulations Grizzlies!
|
 FRIENDS OF PAYTON COMMUNITY EVENTS
Thank You for a
Wonderful Evening!
A big thank you goes out to Jenelle & Dan Sullivan for hosting the Fall Parents Night Out. There was a great turnout of parents and all had a wonderful time. If you missed it, plan to join us for the next one during winter. If you are interested in hosting the winter pot luck dinner at your home, please email Carol Cubia-Siebert. It's easy and fun, FOP brings supplies and helpers - you just provide your home.
|
NEW PAYTON FACULTY
World Language:
Ms. Marnice Lewis
New to the Payton faculty this year is Ms. Marnice Lewis, who is teaching French 1 and 2, as well as Dance 1 and 2. She also leads the seminar "MegaHit: Music Videos" where students learn choreography from classic music videos, then film and share their work with the rest of Payton. Hailing from Elgin, Illinois, Ms. Lewis has been speaking French and dancing since childhood. She attended the Larkin High School Visual and Performing Arts Academy for Dance and then majored in both Dance and French at Northwestern University.
Following college, she moved to Spain and received her Teaching English as a Foreign Language Certificate from Canterbury TEFL in Madrid. After a few years back in Chicago, she accepted a position teaching English in Paris. While in France, Ms. Lewis took some time to travel the world and is very proud to say that she made it to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. After returning to Chicago, Ms. Lewis knew she wanted to continue teaching so she went back to school and earned her Master of Education from DePaul University. She feels lucky to have done her student teaching in Payton's World Language Dept., alongside Mmes. Abby Imren and Alicia Gonzales. Ms. Lewis loves sharing new skills with students, especially in her passions, dance and French. "It's such a joy when an idea, concept, or activity click for a student and they have that 'aha' moment," she explains. Ms. Lewis enjoys exploring Chicago, reading, watching TV, spending time with family and friends, and - of course - dancing. She is pleased to be part of the Payton community. Please extend a warm welcome to Ms. Lewis!
|
FOP Fundraising News
Annual Appeal: Launched in early Aug. as an "Emergency Annual Appeal", the Annual Appeal is ongoing and critical to maintaining Payton's programming for current students. To date, 155 families have generously contributed to the Appeal and we have raised 35% more than was raised in last year's Appeal. Our sincere thanks to all of those who have given so far. Once again, the Annual Appeal is still underway, and we hope that all families will consider giving at whatever level is most comfortable for them. Donations are as easy as clicking here!
Wish list: Thank you to those who have helped make our teachers' wishes come true. To date, we have raised $10,334.00 for teacher wish list items. If you would like to donate to the teachers' wish list, just click here!
Spring Gala: The Gala committee will meet after the Friends of Payton Community meeting on Tues. Nov. 3 for a short time. Anyone interested in volunteering, please come! If you would like to volunteer but can't attend the meeting, please email Kathryn Schutz at katstws@gmail.com.
|
 FOLLOW YOUR GRIZZLY TEAMS
Booster Club:
Now Tweeting Team Updates
The Booster Club is pleased to announce it is now providing regular updates on Twitter for all Payton sports and academic teams. Please follow us @PaytonBoosters! To have updates announced, please e-mail cartersmith22@mac.com or send him a direct message @PaytonBoosters. The more people who follow and respond, the more robust this medium will become, so please follow us today!
|
NEW PAYTON FACULTY
Science: Mr. Priyank Srivastava
Payton welcomes our new Honors Physics and Honors Chemistry teacher, Mr. Priyank Srivastava. He looks forward to his time here at Payton, teaching and learning from all the Payton students! Mr. Srivastava was born in Africa but calls Chicago home, having grown up in the north suburbs. He credits his high school architecture teacher with influencing him to go into education, stating that, "he knew how to connect with students and made them/me want to strive to do better." Mr. Srivastava received his undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2007, and his MAT in Secondary Education from the University of Chicago in 2012. While at the University of Chicago, he met fellow Payton teachers Ms. Sara Heiberger (Math) and Ms. Kathie Ang (Science). Before arriving at Payton, he taught Chemistry, Anatomy and Physiology at Urban Prep Charter Academy for Young Men in Englewood. In his free time, he loves seeing movies, spending time with family, and watching football and basketball - the Bears and the Bulls of course. When he gets a chance, he also enjoys spending time outdoors or camping. Sedona, Arizona is a favorite destination.
Please give Mr. Srivastava a warm Grizzly welcome!
|
 PAYTON TEAMS AND ATHLETICS
Grizzly Update:
Fall Teams
Chess: The team is busy preparing for its upcoming season with the first tournament set for Sat. Nov. 7 at Evanston Township High School. Practices are held Wed. & Fri. after school in Mr. Silvia's Room. Interested students are encouraged to join the Payton Chess Team Facebook Group or contact Team Captains Asher Borstein (JR), Emory Brigdon (SR), Ian Kidwell (SR) or Michael May (SR) for more information.
Debate: At the first Chicago Debate League tournament of the year, Payton won four varsity speaker awards: Luisa Cusick (SR): 1st, Lenny Brahin (SR): 3d, Alex Sherman (JR): 12th, Micah Weese (soph): 15th. Cusick and Brahin won the tournament, Sherman and Lucy McDermott (JR) cleared to semi-finals. It was an equally successful tournament for our novice teams, with three speaker awards: Chloe Williams (frosh): 9th, TJ Boland (frosh): 11th, and Mason Wicklander (frosh): 14th. Boland and Wicklander cleared to quarters, as did Williams and Nina Li (frosh). At the New Trier Season Opener, a national circuit tournament, Brahin won second speaker and Cusick won fourth speaker; as a team they went 6-0 in preliminary rounds and cleared to Octas. Sherman and McDermott went 4-2 in preliminary rounds.
Boys Cross Country: The varsity team had a fine showing at the CPS City Championships on Oct. 17., finishing 9th and led by Alejandro Vargas (JR), and seniors Jonathan Annicks, Sam Detmer, and Jorge Martinez. The boys Frosh-Soph team came in 5th led by Matthew Marchbanks, who finished 2d, followed by Jeffrey Aguirre and Ryan Collins. The freshman team had an amazing first place total, with Charlie Pillsbury, Freddy Martin, and Thomas Gohres finishing 1st, 3rd, and 5th, respectively. The team finished a strong 3rd at Regionals and moved on to Sectionals on Oct. 31. Marchbanks finished 13th, with no team member finishing below 26th.
Girls Cross Country: The teams are having a great season with strong showings in all classes. Highlights include the varsity beating 25 other teams in the Latin Invitational, while the JV and Frosh-Soph teams both came in 2d. In the City Championships, varsity came in 3rd of 34 teams, a terrific accomplishment, and both the JV and Frosh-Soph teams came in the top five in the championship. The girls won their Regional and moved on to Sectionals on Oct. 31. Alana Chandler (JR) finished third overall trailed closely by fellow juniors Molly Crotteau and Claire Goldman in fourth and fifth, respectively. Like the boys, no team member finished lower than 26th. Congratulations and good luck to both teams!
Football: Led by senior Captains Joe Droegemueller, Irie Evans, Mike Kalanik and Alex LeFauve, the Payton Grizzlies football team finished the regular season as 7-1 conference champions. In a season full of spectacular highlights and statistics, one that stands out is the team outscoring its opponents 322-102 under Coach George Klupchak. Following a loss to a tough North Lawndale team in the City Playoffs, Payton moved into the IHSA State Playoffs as the #9 seed in Class 5A. The team took on Tinley Park HS Oct. 30 at Tinley Park. At Senior Night, the team defeated Uplift 51-12 to make it an exciting night for everyone as they said farewell to seniors Mike Kalanik #25, Joe Droegemueller #76, Irie Evans #66, Alex LeFauve #52, Luis Palacios #55, David Leon #51, Tim Fitch #72. (photo in Gallery below)
Boys Golf: The Payton-Jones Boys Golf team finished its season at the IHSA Sectional Tournament. The team had an historic season and won the CPS Preseason Invitational tournament in Aug., with senior captain Ben Smith shooting an amazing four-under par 67 to take medalist honors by 12 shots. The team won the title by 20 shots over its nearest competitor. The team also went undefeated in CPS League play and went on to win the City Championship by 22 shots over its nearest rival, Whitney Young. For the first time in team history, the Boys Golf team finished second as a team in the IHSA Regional Tournament and advanced as a team to IHSA Sectionals. The Payton students on the Payton-Jones Golf team included seniors Ben Smith, Bison Carcelli and Jack Mellske, Jacob Sherline (JR), Jack McHugh (soph) and junior exchange student Niklas Krug from Germany.
Girls Volleyball: The team had another successful season. The freshman team, coached by JP Berg and Clare Anderson, won the city tournament on Oct. 10, after defeating Whitney Young in three close sets. Coach Jory Novicki's sophomore team finished 5th in conference. The varsity team won more than 20 matches for the 9th straight year. The team tied for the conference championship and finished 2d in the city tournament after a close loss to Whitney Young. They also finished 4th in the DeLaSalle tournament where Ally Powrie (soph) made the All-Tournament team. The Grizzlies are seeded 8th in Class 4A Sectionals and will face 10th seed Glenbard East. As the season concludes, we say goodbye to seniors: Nadiyah Pate, Olivia Rozmus, and Julianna Iturralde.
Ally Powrie garnered national honors in Oct., being named to the 2015 American Volleyball Coaches Association Phenom list. She was one of only 8 athletes recognized in her class in Illinois. Congratulations, Ally!
|
 SEMINARS AND ENRICHMENTS
Hero, Hardship, Highlight
"I know I can't fix everybody, but my focus is to break down the barriers." Dr. Daniel Ivankovich (CNN Heroes 2015)
I have the privilege of co-leading a seminar called "Living Out Loud" with a licensed therapist, Ms. Candice Collins. The focus of the seminar is to guide students through activities that assist them in exploring, owning, and declaring their stories. Western education tends to focus heavily on developing what's in the head. At Payton, we strive to develop both head and heart and to help students to strengthen the bridge between the two.
During a recent seminar, students were asked to share a personal hero, hardship, and highlight. The goal was to help our students examine the impact of these three areas on how they view themselves and relate to one another. We used short videos to introduce the three areas, which resulted in a very rich discussion. Candice and I were blown away at the depth of the insights shared. We learned of the impact faculty can have on the lives of their students. All of us, me and Candice included, shared an educator's name as our personal hero.
My hero is Dr. Teresa Thompson, a professor who took an interest in me at the University of Dayton. She mentored me in so many ways, and encouraged me to continue my studies because of my love for learning. Not only did I continue my studies, I went on to get a PhD in communication with an emphasis in health communication just like her! I am forever grateful for her guidance.
Take a moment to identify a personal hero, hardship, or highlight of your own and consider using it as a discussion topic within your family. Click on the links to learn more:
|
 FINE ARTS
Music News and
Upcoming Events
The time is now for talent to shine...Payton's Jazz Orchestra, Sounds of Sweetness, and Pieces of Perfection will all perform at the Open House on Sat. Nov. 14, encouraging eager 8th graders to join them at Payton!
--From the Band Room The band and orchestra students are busy preparing for the Instrumental Winter Concert. (dates below) Payton Jazz Orchestra will perform at the Museum of Science and Industry for its Christmas Around the World dinner for the volunteers who set up the Christmas tree display. This has become an annual event for the band, which is making its 10th appearance at the event. --From the Choir Room Payton had 43 anxious Concert Choir students audition for the Illinois Music Educators Association's Regional and All-State Choirs earlier this month...results will be posted next week. Good luck to all! --Sounds of Sweetness
SoS will represent Payton at the Chicago a Capella Festival at Logan Center for the Arts on Sat. Nov. 7. SoS will spend the day in workshops and rehearsals with other ensembles from the Chicago region. There will be a closing concert at 5PM at the Logan Center. (950 E. 60th St.)
--Concert Choir is Argentina Bound and is busy with fundraising
Buy your poinsettia plants from us and we receive 50% of all sales for the trip fund. Concert Choir students will sell beautiful poinsettias delivered right here to Payton on Fri. Dec 11, just in time for the holidays. Mr. Potter found a wonderful LOCAL farm that will provide the holiday blooms.
Do you know of a business or family that would like to support our Concert Choir tour to Argentina? It promises to be an amazing cultural and musical exchange. All donations are 100% tax deductible. The Concert Choir would love to come sing for a business gathering or private party in exchange. In addition, all donors will be invited to attend our "Welcome Back to North America" concert on Apr. 28 and will be honored then for their assistance in getting us to South America. Please email Ms. Kate Johnston (Music) with any questions. Thank you for your support!
Save the Dates: All concerts start at 7PM. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students and seniors.
Fri. Dec. 4: Winter Concert (Chamber Strings, Concert Band, and Jazz Orchestra)
Wed. Dec. 9: Beginner Choirs Winter Concert
Fri. Dec. 11: Advanced Choirs Winter Concert
Feb. 4,5,6: Broadway Gems
|
Payton Initiative for Education (PIE) is a non-profit organization designed to build and manage an endowment to ensure the legacy of academic excellence at Payton. Please join us! PIE is looking for committee volunteers and new board members. We rescheduled our monthly meetings to 7:15PM, following the FOP Community Meeting. If you would like to attend the Nov. 3 or Dec. 1 meeting as a guest and/or are interested in joining, please contact Susan Orloff. Click here to see our temporary website for more information.
|
 GLOBAL CONNECTIONS
International Travel News
and Important Dates
CIEE Global Navigator Scholarship:
The deadline to apply for summer study abroad in 2016 is Tues. Dec. 1. ( Click here for detailed information.) These scholarships open the world to students. Here are some reflections from past Payton CIEE navigators:
Sophia Bisch (SR): "Since living in Nanjing, I've noticed a significant change in me. I'm not that shy girl who mumbles her Chinese to people and hesitates because she thinks she doesn't know the right characters. I feel more confident when I use my Chinese. I've been able to communicate with random people on the street or in stores. I've ordered really tasty niu rou mian tiao (beef noodle soup) and jiao zi (dumpling). I've also briefly chatted with my shu shu (uncle / dad's younger brother) who doesn't know any English. I'm not fluent in Mandarin but I'm striving towards that goal. As I recollect on my day-to-day exposure to Chinese culture and language, I am proud of myself and CIEE for being such a big help. I can't express enough my gratitude for this trip."
Arturo Simental (SR): "Traveling to Madrid was the highlight of my summer, better yet...of my summers. Going into the trip I had no idea I was going to be surrounded by such great company and establish deep connections with people I was only going to be with for a month. CIEE's Madrid trip not only opened my eyes to the distinct culture of Spain but I also saw improvement in my own Spanish. Personally, my trip this summer really helped me figure out what major I want to pursue in college. Visiting Madrid opened my eyes to new hobbies and is a wonderful city to reflect on one's experiences. Surrounded by beautiful buildings and landscapes, I had this sudden realization of what I wanted to pursue: architecture. CIEE allows for more than just language growth, but also personality growth. You will begin to establish (if you haven't already) the type of individual you are. CIEE's trips bring more to the table than just a fun immersive vacation."
Be a WorldChicago Youth Diplomat: WorldChicago is excited to announce the launch of WorldChicago Youth Diplomats, an eight-month experiential learning program that will explore global issues, build leadership and communication skills, and introduce students to college and career options in international affairs and diplomacy. Participants will also serve as peer ambassadors to WorldChicago's international youth exchange students from Africa, the Middle East, Cuba, and the UK.
There is NO FEE to participate in Youth Diplomats and WorldChicago is interested in recruiting Payton students. Participants will be selected through a merit-based application and interview process. WorldChicago will select 15-20 students representing the city and surrounding suburbs. Youth Diplomats will meet on the second Sat. of each month from Jan.-Aug. 2016. Click here for more information. Applications are due by Sun. Nov. 8.
Global Connections Enrichment Sessions: More sessions on global learning and scholarship opportunities will be held in Enrichments, including The Experiment in International Living in Nov. (Date TBA) and student presentations from Payton CIEE alumni throughout Oct. and Nov.
Travel Tracker: C alendar key deadlines and info sessions on travel opportunities with Travel Tracker! Budget time to fill out applications, get teacher recommendations, and complete paperwork. Always check program websites and Payton Global Connections for specific due dates and guidelines.
|
STUDENT GOVERNMENT UPDATE
Welcoming New Freshmen Representatives
Reported with the help of Hubert Mysliwiec, VP of Student Government
On the last seminar day, the freshman elected the following as their class representatives: Katherine Donovan, Anabelle Gannon, Veronica Gibson, Mia Matziaris, Allegra Minor, Jacqueline Pasowicz and Dustin So. The new reps got right to work, participating in their first meeting following their election. Congrats to all of you! In the upcoming meetings, Student Government plans on creating a constitution for the group, as well as working alongside the Payton administration to tackle issues relating to possible budget cuts.
|
|
|
|
NEXT MEETING NOV. 18
Local School Council (LSC)
Update
At the LSC meeting on Oct. 14, Principal Devine gave the following updates:
--Construction on the new building is moving along. Installation of the interior walls, exterior brickwork, roof tar, and gym floor are underway;
--Payton was randomly selected for a federal/state grant compliance audit. Auditors were on campus for 8 hours to look through all grant-funded programs and Payton passed with the highest grade in 46 categories, and 2d highest in one category;
--Payton has been highlighted in Beyond Measure, a follow-up book and documentary by the creator of Race to Nowhere. The book features schools that help students think about different situations and dynamics. The book notes that Payton's seminars and enrichments encourage such thinking, and its lack of class rank lessens the focus on competition. The administration is trying to arrange a community viewing of the documentary;
In CPS budget news, the Office of Diverse Learners cut special education staffing in early Oct., announcing the cuts to the Sun Times before telling school principals. The formula-driven cuts did not account for block scheduling and resulted in Payton losing a para-professional. The administration pushed for an appeal process, one was established, and an appeal has been lodged.
The current CPS budget was predicated on Springfield plugging the $480 million shortfall in CPS funding. If the state legislature does not act by mid-Nov., a second round of budget cuts will be implemented at the start of the spring semester. Mr. Devine met with CPS head Forrest Claypool, who estimates the cuts will require layoffs of 5,000 teachers across CPS. This translates to Payton losing 12 teachers. A notable lack of urgency exists in Springfield. Parents, guardians, and families are encouraged to act, and voice their concerns about educational access and equity by writing and calling their legislators and other elected officials.
The next LSC meeting is on Nov. 18 at 6PM in the Payton Library. All meetings are open to the public. Please join us!
|
|
Grizzly Gallery
Debaters Lucy McDermott and Alex Sherman
 Boys Golf: City Champions!
CPS Student Sit-In Protesting Budget Cuts
Payton Chess
 Girls Cross Country
 Football: Senior Night 
Strasbourg: French Student Cultural Exchange
 Stratford, Ontario: Shakespeare Festival Trip
|
|
|
|
