Marquardt Magazine: Volume 3, Issue 2 by d1512

M A R Q U A R D T M A G A Z I N E V O L U M E 3 | I S S U E 2

from the superintendent

Dear MSD15 Community,

There are two words I would like to start out by saying Thank you

Thank you to our tremendous MSD15 community including parents, guardians, families, teachers, staff and our greater community members Together, we contributed to another strong year of learning for our students

While planning is well underway for the 2022-2023 school year, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate all of our successes of the last school year As we reflect on the first full in-person school year after the pandemic, we saw

an epic return to the Performing Arts Center, we welcomed back our Young Chefs program in a brand new kitchen space, we expanded our programming beyond the typical school week into Saturdays, we experienced the return of student athletes to our fields and courts, and we saw true innovation in our classrooms

I hope you enjoy this issue of Marquardt Magazine as much as I do The positivity of last year is contagious As you flip through these pages, I hope it brings a smile to your face and pride to your heart We look forward to seeing your student in the fall

M A R Q U A R D T M A G A Z I N E

DR. JEROME O'SHEA SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS

Winnebago 5th graders, Khloe M. and Lean D., pose for the camera at their Moving On Celebration MMS 8th grader Mia W posed with her family after a private promotion ceremony was held to include her father in the US Armed Services Hall 5th graders, Jackson A and Davion B, participate in an interactive classroom project during Math MMS 8th grader, Anna B, waves for the ball during a Home basketball game. Reskin 1st grader, Alexandra E, enjoys an ice cream sandwich on the playground during the Registration Challenge Ice Cream Social MMS 7th grader, Mario M, plays the drums for Winnebago students during the Music Program's traveling concert. Hall Kindergarteners participate in the Hall Walkathon by doing jumping jacks together at one of the exercise stations Black Hawk Kindergartener, Mbah A, reads a book aloud to his teachers and classmates

Winnebago 2nd grader, Olivia M, participates in instruction during Reading at Summer Splash. Reskin 4th grader, Lily L, carefully focuses on a test in her classroom. MMS students play bags together during Field Day Elementary Orchestra students play inside the Performing Arts Center during a spring performance. MMS 8th grader, Angel M, bumps the ball to his teammate during a volleyball game Winnebago 1st grader, Edwin S, creates an example of shelter during Exploration University's Saturday STREAM program Winnebago 1st grader, Liam B, stirs a clay mixture during Exploration University's Saturday STREAM program Black Hawk 4th grader, Meer P, sets up bowling pins during Physical Education class

Back in the PAC

Concerts, plays and promotion return to the Performing Arts Center in full-swing

Throughout the pandemic, the Marquardt School District 15 scaled back its significant gatherings inside the Performing Arts Center including during concerts, plays and 8th grade promotion ceremonies As restrictions began to loosen, the District focused on strategically welcoming back these valued events with an emphasis on safety

"The Performing Arts Center is an incredible pillar in our community that brings us together as one We wanted to make sure we brought back gatherings in a timely but safe manner," said Dr Jerry O'Shea, Superintendent of Schools

The Marquardt Middle School music programs put on a wide range of concerts throughout the year with their band, orchestra and choir students Departments also put on lunchtime performances throughout the year to inspire even more participation in their programs Additionally, MMS theatre students put on dazzling plays in the fall and in the spring, including "Model Students" and "Everything But"

MMS celebrated their 8th graders as they enter a new chapter into high school Three separate promotion ceremonies were held inside the PAC Students were able to walk across the stage in front of their families and peers, receive their promotion certificate and receive a special gift from MMS

MMS 8th grader, Genavieve E, walks across the stage to accept her promotion certificate from Principal Dr Rebecca Gabrenya. The Performing Arts Center sign warmly welcomes parents and guardians into the spring elementary orchestra concert 8th grade orchestra students receive a standing ovation during their spring concert as led by Orchestra Teacher Ms Jennifer Baker MMS 6th grader, Leighten S, recites her lines during a dress rehearsal for the spring play, "Everything But"

Tiny Homes, Big Imagination

Innovation inside Winnebago's Accelerated Math Class

One Winnebago classroom has the blueprint for one unforgettable learning experience 4th grade students in Mrs Kristen Orlando's Accelerated math class engaged in a group project constructing tiny homes Students interviewed clients, drafted blueprints, met with an architect about the design process, and built scale models Once students completed their tiny home models, they presented their work to clients and other 4th grade classrooms

If you watch HGTV, you may be familiar with the tiny home craze The trend has sparked reality TV shows and inspired tiny home pop-up communities across the country. The tiny house movement is known for downsizing living spaces, simplifying our lifestyles and giving people the chance to be mobile (for tiny homes on wheels!)

"Students not only applied mathematical understandings to design and build scale models, but also grew as readers, writers, and speakers in the process Students were engaged by the collaborative design process and loved putting personal touches on their models," said Mrs Kristen Orlando, Winnebago Math Support Teacher

Marquardt School District 15's Accelerated Math Program is offered for academically able learners in the upper elementary grades Students in this program receive daily math instruction with certified math teachers in content a year or more above their current grade level

Winnebago 4th graders, Alyson M. and Angelina M., discuss their tiny home blueprints Winnebago 4th graders, Gabriel B, Noah K and Enguun N, review some of their notes from the client as they design their blueprint.

Culinary Skills Heat Up

Young Chefs Returns to MMS

A recipe for a savory learning experience that students will never forget The Marquardt School District 15 Food and Nutrition Services Department and Marquardt Middle School have teamed up to bring back the Young Chefs program to middle school students The program was temporarily put on hold due to the pandemic

Students have strengthened their culinary skills by making pico de gallo, omelets and much more These young chefs stick to a recipe but are given flexibility to add or remove ingredients based on their taste

As students were welcomed back into the kitchen during this after school learning opportunity, they were able to gather in a brand new space Students now are chopping, grating and pouring in the newly reconstructed teachers lounge This incredible space has state of the art equipment with an open design concept

"We are so fortunate to have a space that not only fuels our student's passion for creating but also allows them to collaborate and learn from each other along the way," said Dr Rebecca Gabrenya, MMS Principal

The MMS Young Chefs program is open to interested 7th and 8th grade students afterschool The District plans to offer the program again for the 2022-2023 school year

MMS 8th grader, Alek J, receives instruction from Ms Jen Leadaman as he chops garlic A group of 8th graders carefully listen to FNS Director Stefanie Giannini regarding knife skills. MMS 8th grader, Aisha S, slices a tomato for her group's pico de gallo

Backpack READY TO LEARN Library Card Without wheels Gym Shoes New or used THE MSD15 SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST FOR THE 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR Headphones (Middle school only) Playdough (Kindergarten only 1 package to be left at home ) MSD15 will provide the rest of your child's school supply list for the 22-23 school year Issued from a public library based on student's residence

Q&A with the MMS Reading Specialist Team, Mrs. Amanda Burdi

& Mrs. Katie Minkalis

Q: Let’s chat about a new, exciting reading campaign that you’re launching for MMS Tell me all about #High5MMS.

Mrs Minkalis: We are trying to celebrate our readers, so our #High5MMS campaign is simply about getting all of our MMS students to read 5. Any 5 books! We love audiobooks, so if that's your thing... do that! We support all reading. So, what you're going to do is simply choose 5 books that you want to read That's the only requirement Read them, keep track and in the fall we are going to give big high fives all around to our MMS students and we're going to have a big party to celebrate all of the reading we did over the summer

Q: One part about your job that makes you smile?

Q: Let’s talk about a phrase and just an unfortunate trend that school districts across the country deal with this time of year. It’s called “summer slide.” What exactly is summer slide?

Mrs Burdi: Summer slide is a trend that affects lots of schools If students aren't practicing reading actively throughout the summer, what happens is their skills slide backwards Sometimes 2 or 3 months worth of skills that have been built up decline. It's kind of like a runner who takes a 3 month break from running sprints. They're not going to be as fast the next time they run a sprint. So, this slide is a real research-based concept and it's a trend that we see and observe in our buildings and that's why it's so important to really make time for reading based activities of all kinds throughout the summer months

Q: Access to resources is such a crucial part of combatting Summer Slide. Where are some places that parents could look when it comes to getting various learning materials, Amanda?

Mrs Burdi: The local libraries in Glendale Heights, Bloomingdale and Addison all have wonderful resources They have wonderful librarians who are extremely helpful when you visit in-person With your library card, you can also access digital resources with any of these three libraries Digital resources include digital texts that you would read on a device like a computer or iPad at home You can also listen to audiobooks and that could be on-thego as you're in the car, doing laundry, mowing the lawn or whatever tasks students are participating in over the summer.

Mrs Minkalis: So many things It is a gift to teach and to share part of the journey that these students have while in middle school Middle school is a really cool time because kids are not in the middle at all, right? They have high points and low points, it doesn't feel like they're in the middle. But they're in such a cool part of their life where they're sort of exploring what they understand about themselves and who they want to be in the world and reading is a really awesome place to sort of explore that and support kids on that There are so many things I love about my job but I think for me, just connecting kids with books is an incredibly rewarding part of our job because you can see kids start to see more of the world and understand more experiences Storytelling and books often have a way of doing that I love it

Mrs Amanda Burdi and Mrs Katie Minkalis are Reading Support Teachers at Marquardt Middle School To learn more about applying for a library card, please visit your local public library based on your residence

Mrs Amanda Burdi Mrs Katie Minkalis

Building the Future

Renovation work continues across the District during Summer Break

When summer break begins, the Buildings and Grounds Department kicks things into high gear to prepare for the upcoming school year Significant renovation projects are underway across the District including inside Hall's library and STREAM lab, Marquardt Middle School's interior and exterior, and Reskin's roof

"By designing, overseeing and self-performing some of the work, and in some cases using salvaged materials, we are able to do these projects for far less than a normal budget," says Steve Stavroplos, Director of Buildings and Grounds

Hall is the final library across MSD15's five schools to receive a makeover and overhaul The renovations include a new layout, new flooring, new shelving and a new whimsical design The space will make its debut on the first day back for students and staff

A week after students went on summer break, Hall's library and STREAM lab were completely gutted and crews began their incredible work to update and renovate the space

Buildings and Grounds Director Steve Stavroplos works on a custom shelving design that was built out of repurposed materials from across the District Maintenance Staff, Jose Martinez, carefully paints one of the many book shelves he has built for classrooms across the District

Board Member Q&A

I studied Business Administration and Exercise Science at Illinois Benedictine College. I spent several years playing Independent League Baseball After baseball, I entered the financial services industry Now, I coach and run basketball and baseball camps, as well as two non-profits.

Q: How long have you lived in Bloomingdale? 9 years

Q: How did you first get involved with Marquardt School District 15?

A Board member had moved out of District and members of the community were looking for recommendations for someone to take their place on the Board. I ultimately ran for the seat, became elected and am now the Board Vice President

A: I truly value the education I received throughout my life and feel a responsibility to my local community to help shape positive learning experiences for our next generation

Q: You have been such an integral part of MSD15. Who inspired you to do this work? My daughter Jocelyn and son Jonathan

I have learned that both failures and successes are learning tools to help us better prepare for the next challenge or project ahead It's up to us to learn from these life experiences and continue to put our best foot forward.

Q: What’s the most rewarding part of being on the Marquardt District 15 Board of Education?

I truly value the relationships I have made with parents, students and staff I have also had the honor of working with our Accelerated Program as well as our Athletic Program. It's been rewarding to build these impactful opportunities for current and future students