Friday, December 8, 2017
Volume 144 No. 1
Single Copy Cost 50¢
TONICA
Measuring students’ academic progress Illinois Report Card information released BY DAVE COOK news@tonicanews.com TONICA — Each year, the Illinois State Board of Education releases a comprehensive report card showing how each school, district and the state are performing across a range of educational goals, as well as demographic information. IllinoisReportCard.com is the official
source for information about Illinois public schools. It’s meant to help educators, families, students, researchers, policymakers and communities monitor the performance and environments of their local schools as they strive to offer the best education possible. “I think the state is moving in a better direction regarding how schools are evaluated by using multiple metric points,” Tonica Grade School Superintendent Chuck Schneider said. “These will be part of the new funding model, which will include academic information as well. A singular assess-
ment is a snapshot in a moment of time and only utilizes one mode of assessment, while students learn differently and show their learning through various assessment types,” Schneider said.
PARCC testing The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Career (PARCC) tests were developed to measure academic achievement with challenging standards. The tests require students to use analytical skills, problem solving, and writing effectively, all of which are required for students to be successful in the real world.
LOSTANT
Students who meet or exceed expectations will likely be on track for the next grade level and subsequently ready for college and careers. The results are also used to measure student growth for school and district accountability. “Our testing results showed gains in the number of students that had an exceeds indicator. The number of students passing Algebra 1 as an eighth grader at Tonica was also a positive indication of preparing students for higher level math when they reach high school,” Schneider said.
See REPORT CARD, Page 2
LASALLE COUNTY
First human case of West Nile virus in 2017 reported County typically has one to two cases reported each year
DIY track team
Brother and sister medal in recent 5K BY DAVE COOK
In the photo
news@tonicanews.com LOSTANT — Having laced up their running shoes for the first time only a few months ago, a Lostant brother and sister have quickly made themselves competitive on the local 5K circuit. John Ricci, 9 and Leah Ricci, 8, began running this summer while attending the Kids’ Running Clinic hosted by the Starved Rock Runners group. “We’re a home-schooling family, so things like
Vol. 144 No. 1 One Section - 8 Pages
Leah Ricci, 8, and her brother, John Ricci, 9, started running 5K races this year and have become competitive on the local 5K circuit. The home-schooled siblings’ appetite for running was whetted when they participated in a Kids’ Running Clinic hosted by the Starved Rock Runners group. (Tonica News photo/Dave Cook track aren’t activities they’ll get a choice to do as readily at school like most other kids. The kids and I did our first 5K at the Boo Milby race in August, which is what the clinic trained the kids to do,” Kathy Ricci, John and Leah’s mother, said.
After completing the race, Kathy was told how much fun it was, and that they’d like to continue to race. Their grandmother, as a Halloween gift, sponsored their entry into the recent Santas On The Run 5K held in Spring Valley on Nov. 25.
KETTMAN
© The Tonica News
SM-PR1485116
HEATING & PLUMBING, INC.
Look for the man in the Orange & White Van!
While five family members ran the race, including Kathy, 10 year-old sister Annalise, and 12-yearold sister Christine, it was Leah and John who distinguished themselves on the hilly course. Leah, in only her second race, won her age group with a time of 34:33, and John placed second in his age group with a time of 32:27. Overall, they crossed the finish line in 138th and 170th places out of a total of 326 runners.
See RUNNING, Page 2
OTTAWA — Although it’s late in the year, a lengthy and warm autumn allowed infected mosquitoes additional time to make their presence known. The LaSalle County Health Department recently confirmed its first human case of West Nile virus for 2017. The department reported a resident in their 60’s tested positive for the virus in November. They also reported human cases were previously reported in LaSalle County in 2016 (1), 2014 (1), 2013 (1), 2007 (2), 2006 (1), 2005 (1), 2004 (5), 2003 (1), and 2002 (11) during the late summer and early autumn. Additionally, local mosquitoes and birds also tested positive for the virus during the summer. “Although we’ve experienced much cooler temperatures over the last few weeks, the confirmation of a human case isn’t surprising due to the prolonged warmer temperatures and late frost we experienced this fall,” Chris Pozzi, LaSalle County’s director of environ-
Call to get your furnace cleaned & checked now! 24 Hour 815-339-6124 Service
mental health, said in a press release. “As we look forward to the spring season and warmer weather in 2018, it’s important to remember the best way to protect yourself against illness is to wear insect repellent and to get rid of any stagnant water around your home to reduce the number of mosquitoes,” Pozzi said. According to the World Health Organization, West Nile virus was first isolated in a Ugandan woman in 1937. It was later identified in birds in the Nile’s delta region in 1953. Before 1997, it wasn’t considered pathogenic for birds, but a more virulent strain developed in Israel that caused the death of various bird species presenting signs of encephalitis and paralysis. Human infections have been reported in many countries for more than 50 years. In 1999, the virus circulating in Israel and Tunisia was imported to New York and through the subsequent years, it’s spread dramatically across the nation.
See VIRUS, Page 2
LIC. #058-111758
107 East Harrison St. • Granville, IL • www.kettmanheating.com • 815-339-6124