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Oc t o be r 2 2, 2014 • $1 .0 0
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Tech in the Putting ‘we’ before ‘me’ classroom promising, officials say CHICAGO BEARS CHAIRMAN VISITS GWENDOLYN BROOKS ELEMENTARY IN DeKALB
Lincoln Elementary principal: ‘It’s been a steep learning curve’ By KATIE DAHLSTROM kdahlstrom@shawmedia.com DeKALB – Putting mobile computers in students’ hands has taught DeKalb School District 428 those students and their teachers an important lesson: Be flexible. That’s what Lincoln Elementary School Principal Anna Hoyou and eighthgrade instructional coach Kelli Hamilton told DeKalb District 428 school board members during their meeting Tuesday. “So far, it’s been a steep learning curve, let me say that,” Hoyou said. “I think for adults, really, as well as students.” The district spent nearly $1.5 million on a pilot oneto-one technology program, buying 550 Chromebooks for eighth-grade students at Huntley and Clinton Rosette middle schools and 350 Samsung tablets for all students at Lincoln Elementary School this year. Students use the devices daily and take them home. Students from kindergarten through fifth grade run into some challenges with their tablets, such as plugging in keyboards or bringing compatible headphones, Hoyou said. At the eighthgrade level, the problems are mostly related to technical support, something Hamilton hopes will change. “I’m really just not qualified for tech support,” Hamilton said. “I’m really there for
Danielle Guerra – dguerra@shawmedia.com
Chicago Bears Chairman George McCaskey talks to fifth-graders Tuesday about leadership and the importance of reading and doing well in school at Gwendolyn Brooks Elementary School in DeKalb. Fifth-grade teacher Lisa Feuerbach, who is good friends with George’s wife, Barb, reached out to the McCaskeys after a student told her they were going to play in the NFL and didn’t need to focus on school.
McCaskey emphasizes leadership, reading with 5th-graders By ANDREA AZZO aazzo@shawmedia.com DeKALB – When Chicago Bears Chairman George McCaskey told a group of Gwendolyn Brooks Elementary School fifth-graders they were the leaders of the school, it stuck with Delailah Thompson. McCaskey was invited to speak Tuesday morning to 42 fifth-graders at Brooks Elementary, 3225 Sangamon Road in DeKalb, about leadership and the importance of reading. “I learned about how leadership is very important and that if you stay in school, you can be whatever you want,” Delailah said. “You can conquer your dreams.” Fifth-grade teacher Lisa Feuerbach,
a friend of the McCaskey family, asked McCaskey to speak to the class after one of her students told her he wanted to become a football player and had no back-up plan, Feuerbach said. Many of the children donned Bears jerseys and listened attentively in their classroom to McCaskey, one of Bears owner Virginia McCaskey’s 11 children. He has been chairman of the team since 2011. McCaskey, who lives in DeKalb County, said he does not get the opportunity to talk to local children as much as he would like. “We’ve lived here for 25 years,” he said. “Any time we can get into the community and talk to people, we take advantage of it.” McCaskey showed the students a
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PowerPoint presentation matching members of the Bears organization to attributes, including grace, perseverance, loyalty and competitiveness. He also told them that “we” is greater than “me.” “The group is more important than the individual,” McCaskey said. “If you want to succeed, you have to work better as a group.” Students also received a Bears folder that McCaskey and his wife, Barb, signed for many of them. Wearing her Bears T-shirt and orange skirt, Brooks’ Elementary Principal Shahran Spears was one of the first to welcome the McCaskeys to the school.
See McCASKEY, page A7
Coming up: The Bears play New England at noon Sunday at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts.
“I don’t think it’s yet to the point where students are teaching students all the time. That’s kind of our vision, but you ... have to take those baby steps ... .” Anna Hoyou Lincoln Elementary School principal instructional support to use your technology for instruction.” Students also reported some frustration they couldn’t type as quickly as they wanted, spotlighting the district’s lack of typing instruction. Currently, only Jefferson Elementary School students have typing lessons, although Superintendent Doug Moeller said he hopes to roll out a typing program in elementary schools throughout the district next year. Despite the challenges, the devices benefit the schools, both reported. Students research and collaborating on assignments, and sometimes help other classmates use the tablets. Eighth-grade students seem more engaged, Hamilton said. “I don’t think it’s yet to the point where students are teaching students all the time,” Hoyou said. “That’s kind of our vision, but you ... have to take those baby steps to get there before you do.”
Unity Walk brings community together By JESSI HAISH jhaish@shawmedia.com DeKALB – Joe Mitchell walked through the streets of DeKalb on Tuesday night not only to start a conversation, but to set an example for his own children, too. Mitchell, pastor of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in DeKalb, wants to teach the next generation about the importance of coming together as a community
versity Police Department and New Hope Missionary Baptist Church. The walk began on Normal Road, traveling on Ridge, Bayfield and Hillcrest Drives Cassandra Downs before returning to Normal DeKalb resident Road. Mitchell said the purpose of the event was to bring look back and remember this.” the community together, no and being united. Mitchell organized the matter the race, gender, sex“My mother asked me if she should watch the kids tonight inaugural Unity Walk in ual orientation or any other and I said ‘No, I want them DeKalb, which was hosted factors of people involved, to be here for this,’ ” he said. by the DeKalb Police Depart“Hopefully one day they’ll ment, Northern Illinois UniSee WALK, page A7
“Something like [Ferguson, Missouri] could happen here, it could happen anywhere. It’s important for all of us to come together.”
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Jessi Haish – jhaish@shawmedia.com
DeKalb Police Chief Gene Lowery (at podium) speaks Tuesday evening before the inaugural Unity Walk in DeKalb. Standing on the stage with Lowery are NIU Police Chief Tom Phillips (center) and Joe Mitchell, New Hope Missionary Baptist Church pastor.
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