Tag: Lake County

20 Jul

Kindergarten Countdown Camp: Michael Glassberg

by Marketing DepartmentCategories: News

We are thrilled to share the next post in our Kindergarten Countdown Camp (KCC) summer blog series that kicked off in Waukegan on June 19th. Up next, we’d like to introduce Michael Glassberg, a KCC volunteer, sharing his reflection of the camp over the past several weeks:

What is your role at camp?

My role at camp has been assisting the two main teachers, Ms. Rubio and Mr. Molina with their lessons in a bilingual classroom. Although I do not teach the material to the students, I will roam around the classroom while the students are doing activities to help them solidify their knowledge and make sure they all have good behavior  in the classroom.

So far, what has been the most memorable part about your involvement in the Kindergarten Countdown Camp?

My most memorable experience thus far at Kindergarten Countdown Camp has been playing with the children at the playground every day. Whether it is helping a kid across the monkey bars or playing tag with the class, every day is a new adventure.

Have there been any students or teachers, in particular, that have impact you and how?

Although every student and teacher has affected me in their own unique way, the one the student that has affected me the most is Erick. He has taught me a lot about determination. On the first day of camp, Erick spent the entire day crying about missing his parents. Although I tried comforting him, his crying persisted for hours. Although he obviously felt uncomfortable, he still continued coming to class. Now, every day I can’t wait to see his smile every morning due to his eagerness to learn.

Do you think KCC is making an impact on the children that attend?

Kindergarten Countdown Camp definitely has a huge effect on the children that attend. In the brief couple of weeks that we have been together, I have seen vast improvements in the writing and math skills of all the students attending.

What does education mean to you?

To me, education is the key to getting ahead in life. Without it, others that have received an education will pass you up. That’s why I’m so proud to be giving a basic education to all of these wonderful children in the class.

19 Jul

Better Together: Summer Ending

by Marketing DepartmentCategories: News

Welcome back to another post in our Better Together series. If you’ve been following along with our blog, you’ve read stories and perspectives of many of the participants in United Way’s Better Together/Mejor Juntas Program. One of the people we talked to was Sharon Lichtenstein, the Master Teacher who developed the curriculum, which would be taught to the families. If you’d like to check out her post, click here.

As we wrap up this summer’s Better Together program, we wanted to talk to Sharon again and learn more about the impact of this program. Learn what she had to say:

“I’m flattered that you reached out to me so that I can share my joy and commitment to the Better Together/Mejor Juntas Program.  I felt that we were doing something very important for the North Chicago families, who had children under three years of age.  The program became a community of caring adults, who were excited to support their children’s learning.  We met regularly, and many of the families, who didn’t know one another, became friends.  Visitors to the classroom could not tell which children belonged to which adult.  It was a true example of “it takes a village.”

We know that parents/caregivers are children’s first and most important teachers.  At BT/MJ we encourage the parents and caregivers to believe in their significant role. We want to provide an environment that builds feelings of competency and self-esteem for the adults.  They are significant contributors to their children’s later success in school and in life.

What was your goal with hosting the Better Together Program during the summer?

We wanted to offer a summer program that continued to support families’ commitment to their children’s learning.  We intentionally offered interesting and fun activities to help prepare the children for future school success.  Since it was summer, we focused on using natural materials and exploring nature.   We wanted the children and families to have outdoor play experiences and created a new outside play space.  We also wanted to strengthen the families’ connection to the larger North Chicago Community

Summer is a special time for Better Together campers and families.  It is an opportunity for children to explore the outdoors and nature, to learn about the larger world.  Our curriculum helps our families connect to nature through neighborhood walks; encouraging a sense of freedom in outdoor play that is different from playing indoors. It provides opportunities to take more physical learning risks—running, jumping, and climbing.

What topics were covered during each session?

  • Session 1 : Focused on growing.   “What do you need to make things grow?”
  • Session 2 : Focused on taking a neighborhood walk. “What will we see on our neighborhood walk?”
  • Session 3 : Focused on exploring worms. “Tell me about worms.  Where do they live?  What do they eat?”
  • Session 4 : Focused on community helpers. The North Chicago Fire Department visited the camp. “What do firefighters do?  How can they help you?” We also drew a group thank you banner that was delivered to the fire department.
  • Session 5 : Focused on literacy. North Chicago’s children’s librarian visited camp and shared  finger plays and read stories to the children in Spanish and English.
  • Session 6 : End of Camp Fiesta to celebrate the end of camp. It was planned and hosted by the families.

Why do you feel that it is beneficial that families and their children participate in Better Together?

We envisioned camp to be an extension of the school year program, though it only met twice a week for three weeks.  However, Better Together Summer Camp took on a life of its own.  Families, who had children under three years of age, also brought their older siblings!  The group became a community of families.  Our classroom was a safe and stimulating environment for children’s play where adults met other adults with similar goals and dreams for their children.  It became a “Family Camp,” where everyone was welcome

The families’ consistent attendance demonstrated their attachment to the program and to one another. Every class’s attendance increased from the previous one.   We even had some dads come with their children.  We had a counselor who was a big brother to one of the campers.  The families’ willingness to plan and execute a final class Fiesta showed their strong feelings of commitment to one another and the class.

We learned more about the families during the six camp sessions than during the entire school year.  We discovered two families were involved in early intervention, another mother/child needed transportation, and still others needed support to help with the logistics of enrolling in preschool.  We can help our families make important connections to outside agencies to help and support them.

Better Together provided a safe space where families came together, played with their children in an environment that supported intentional learning, and played outside. Participation of these special adults was an essential component of the camp’s success.

As we approach the new school year, what do you hope to accomplish with the fall sessions of Better Together?

  1. I hope Better Together/Mejor Juntas continues to meet the communities’ needs.  I want to strengthen the families’ role as their children’s first teachers to help them prepare their children for future school success.
  2. I’d like to expand the program to include a more diversified population that is more representative of the community.
  3. I’d like to continue reaching out to various community organizations to foster stronger relationships with BT/MJ families.
  4. I’d like the families to take on a more important role in the execution of the curriculum. I’d like them to let BT/MJ know what types of play and learning they would like to see in class.
  5. I’d like to expand the curriculum to include large motor play. We have been told that the room across the hall from us isn’t being used this new school year, and BT/MJ has enough equipment to furnish the space for gross motor activities.
  6. I want the families to think that BT/MJ is a valuable resource for early childhood and family questions, whether we can answer them immediately or help connect them to outside referrals.

As you can see, there has been a lot of thought and love invested by many people into this program. We are very proud of what we have accomplished this year, and look forward to more positive changes and additions in the new school year.”

18 Jul

Kindergarten Countdown Camp: Rosa Herrera

by Marketing DepartmentCategories: News

Up next for our Kindergarten Countdown Camp (KCC) summer blog series that kicked off in Waukegan on June 19th, we have Rosa Herrera, our Success By 6 Initiative Coordinator, sharing her reflections of KCC and its impact on the children that attend.

Our Kindergarten Countdown Camp (KCC) is in full swing! Kindergarten is an important first step for students to have a successful educational career and KCC aims to prepare students with core skills needed. Children learn the application of language, fine motor, gross motor, social and emotional skills needed to create a smooth transition to Kindergarten. We have seen an immense growth amongst our students thanks to the support of teachers, volunteers and interns.

What are the teachers’ role in Kindergarten Countdown Camp?

KCC teachers have played an instrumental role in creating an environment that stimulates growth and development. They instruct students on foundational skills such as letter recognition, counting and rhyming to constructing positive social relationships that fosters community building and interpersonal development. Their implementation and application of games, toys, art, music, amongst others complements the learning of literacy and mathematical skills. Their passion and love for teaching is demonstrated each day; offering enthusiasm while encouraging children to explore with curiosity.

Do you think Kindergarten Countdown Camp is making an impact on the children that attend?

The students’ growth is evident and is displayed in areas such as writing, counting, and letter recognition. Everyday students demonstrate growth by reciting the alphabet, recognizing primary shapes and colors, writing their name, and many more. There is an increased participation and involvement from all students leading them towards grasping key skills needed to becoming successful kindergartners. Ultimately, with this solid foundation, current KCC students will have a greater chance of achieving their education and lifelong goals. Preparing them to become our future workforce, citizenry and future leaders.

14 Jul

Meet the Interns: Katherine Lechman

by Marketing DepartmentCategories: News

Welcome to another Familiar Faces Friday. Today, we’d like to introduce Katherine Lechman, one of the interns working with us this summer. Our interns and volunteers play a crucial role in the work we do. They work with many different programs, from Reading Success to Kindergarten Countdown Camp. Join us in welcoming Katherine!

  1. What is your name? My name is Katherine Lechman
  2. Where do you go to school? I go to Michigan State University
  3. What is your major/what year in school are you? I will be a junior in the fall and I am double majoring in Social Relations and Policy, as well as Spanish.
  4. Where are you from? I am from Gurnee, Illinois
  5. What’s your favorite restaurant/food? I love any sort of Mexican food, but I have a special place in my heart for Tamales and Horchata!
  6. What is something interesting that no one knows about you? Something interesting that most people don’t know about me is that I spent spring break of my freshman year at MSU volunteering and studying in Mérida, México.
  7. If you had to sing one karaoke song for the rest of your life, what would it be? If I had to sing one karaoke song for the rest of my life it would be Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond.
  8. What is the best movie in the world and why do you think so? The best movie in the world is Silver Linings Playbook. The movie touches on all sorts of important topics such as mental illness, The American Dream, and redemption—plus you can’t beat Jennifer Lawrence’s impressive performance.
13 Jul

Kindergarten Countdown Camp: Karla Medina

by Marketing DepartmentCategories: News

Up next for our Kindergarten Countdown Camp (KCC) summer blog series that kicked off in Waukegan on June 19th, we have Karla Medina, our Community Impact intern who has been spending her summer working in a bilingual classroom at camp.

What is your role at Camp?

My role at Camp entails working directly with the bilingual class and guiding the students throughout the day in our different activities. If a student is having trouble with a certain activity I will give them my attention and assess what the student most needs while working with them one on one to improve their skills.

So far, what has been the most memorable part about your involvement in the Kindergarten Countdown Camp?

So far, the most memorable part has been when we use fun and catchy songs to learn to count. The kids wiggle, wave their hands, and dance along while practicing their numbers and there’s always giggles!

Have there been any students or teachers, in particular, that have impacted you and how?

All the students have been amazing and have a huge place in my heart! It’s especially rewarding when they give you an unexpected hug and look up at you with a bright smile or tell you something more about themselves or their family. One of my favorite things as well is when I might be passing by and they call out to me wanting to show me their work. When that happens, I can tell that they are proud of what they’ve accomplished and I love that they’d want to share that with me. I’m honored to see their progress and join them in their journey in preparation for kindergarten.

Do you think Kindergarten Countdown Camp is making an impact on the children that attend?

I can tell that Kindergarten Countdown Camp has a significant impact on the children that attend. During the first week of classes I took part in performing initial assessments to measure what the children came in already knowing. Having taken part of that, and working personally with the children, I have noticed huge improvement and growth of their skills.

What does education mean to you?

To me, education is an essential right to be guided in developing skills, abilities, and knowledge to be successful and prepared for life.

11 Jul

Waukegan’s Revived Summer School includes Kindergarten Prep for Preschoolers

by Marketing DepartmentCategories: News

For the next post in our Kindergarten Countdown Camp (KCC) summer blog series that kicked off in Waukegan on June 19th, we’re sharing an article published from Lake County News-Sun by Emily K. Coleman, Contact Reporter.

Waukegan District 60 Expands Summer School Program to include kindergartners at Robbie M Lightfoot Early Learning Center on Wednesday, July 5, 2017, in Waukegan. (Mark K. Ukena / Lake County News-Sun) (Mark Kodiak Ukena / Lake County News-Sun)

Five-year-old Delilah Shanjani has been coming home each day with a new letter to teach her parents in sign language.

She’ll make the letter sound, make the sign and then say a word that starts with it, said her mother, Lourdes Shanjani.

Delilah is one of nearly 200 Waukegan School District 60 preschool students enrolled in a summer enrichment program designed to prepare them for kindergarten in the fall, said Verna Wilson, the district’s early childhood and professional learning coordinator.

Lourdes Shanjani said she didn’t know quite what to expect from the summer school program. She was used to a summer school setup designed to help students who were falling behind, but this one was being sold as summer enrichment.

She decided to put her daughter’s name into the lottery and said she’s “super happy” she did.

“She is very excited and eager to come to school every day,” Lourdes Shanjani said. “She loves coming to school. She’s learning many new things.”

District 60’s revived summer school programs for elementary school and middle school students are all designed around the idea of enrichment instead of remediation. While those programs were something district staff has been working on for months, Wilson said it wasn’t until late April that the district found out it received the grant funding needed to make a preschool program possible.

The idea is to help children build the stamina needed to go from a 21/2-hour preschool program to a six-hour, full-day kindergarten classroom; teach them how to move through transitions between subjects, lunch and recess; and improve their knowledge of letters, shapes and phonics, Wilson said.

“We’re laying a foundation in summer school,” she said. “It’s not just all play.”

Kindergartners today are expected to know a lot more than they used to, said kindergarten teacher Jessica Beck, who is one of the instructors working the summer school program. She added that the rigor is “way more intense” than the students would be used to in preschool.

Beck has been slowly transitioning the feel of her classroom from more of a preschool style to a kindergarten one by, for example, lessening the amount of playtime they get each week, she said.

This initial rollout was open only to preschool students enrolled in the district’s preschool program, not to children in private preschools or children who weren’t in preschool at all, because the funding was restricted to that preschool program, Wilson said.

The district has partnered with United Way of Lake County for the past three years to provide a kindergarten summer prep program as part of its Success by 6 initiative, said Edna Galvan, the initiative’s program manager.

The Kindergarten Countdown Camp, a free summer learning program, targets students who have little to no preschool experience, according to United Way’s website.

About 40 students were enrolled in the Waukegan program across two classrooms, each with two certified teachers, Galvan said. One classroom was English-language and the other was bilingual.

The program is also set to offer a session for the first time in Beach Park with 30 students across two classrooms, she said. This is the first time United Way of Lake County has expanded the program to a community outside Waukegan.

The goal is to continue growing in some way, perhaps adding another classroom in Waukegan, growing in Beach Park or expanding to another community, Galvan said.

“It’s just an opportunity, for these students who didn’t go to preschool, just to have them catch up,” she said. “A lot of these students don’t know how to hold a pair of scissors or write their first name. It also helps parents get used to sending their kids to school.”

District 60 also hopes to expand its program, Wilson said.

The district had 642 preschool students enrolled this past school year plus another 89 special-education preschool students, Wilson said. Of those, 431 were headed to kindergarten this coming fall.

She’d like to be able to reach all of those students next year, building upon the 186 who have attended this summer, she said.

That would mean about 38 percent of the district’s approximately 1,130 kindergartners would have access to the program next year, according to district enrollment data.

The district plans on surveying both teachers and parents to get their feedback on the program as well as to see if there are any other changes that need to be made, Wilson said. She also plans on conducting a longitudinal study to see how the students that participated in this program did compared to their peers.

Shanjani said she thinks the district is doing its part to help families participate in the program by providing transportation and both breakfast and lunch. But she said she also hopes the program expands beyond just the students already enrolled in preschool.

emcoleman@tribpub.com

Twitter @mekcoleman

Copyright © 2017, Lake County News-Sun
07 Jul

Meet the Interns: Samari Harper

by Marketing DepartmentCategories: News

Here at United Way, we get to work with a variety of people across many different fields in many different ways. Among them are the United Way interns, volunteers and staff. Today we’d like to spotlight one of our interns as we continue our series of Familiar Faces Friday. Meet Samari, a summer intern who is volunteering in our Kindergarten Countdown Camp in Waukegan.

  1. What is your name? Samari Harper
  2. Where do you go to school? I go to Waukegan High School.
  3. Where are you from? Waukegan, Illinois.
  4. What’s your favorite restaurant/food? My favorite restaurant is Olive Garden. My favorite food from their is chicken pasta with alfredo sauce.
  5. What is something interesting that no one knows about you? I like to play different instruments and like to read Mystery books.
  6. If you had to sing one karaoke song for the rest of your life, what would it be? If I had one song to sing for the rest of my life, it would be Addict with a Pen by Twenty One Pilots.
  7. What is the best movie in the world and why do you think so? The best movie in the world is Inside Out because it shows that anyone can work together to solve a problem.
05 Jul

Kindergarten Countdown Camp: Nicole Jones

by Marketing DepartmentCategories: News

We are thrilled to share the next post in our Kindergarten Countdown Camp (KCC) summer blog series that kicked off in Waukegan on June 19th. Up next, we have Nicole Jones, KCC classroom volunteer, sharing her reflection on the first weeks of camp:

My role at the Kindergarten Countdown Camp is assisting teachers with any extra help that they might need to teach the students.

The most memorable part about my involvement in the Kindergarten Countdown Camp is when a student was playing with legos and wanted to count them and was so excited. It is just one example of how happy all of the kids are to learn and it is very fun to watch them learn.

All of the teachers have impacted me because of how much they care for their students. They work so hard to teach the children and help them to succeed.

I think that the Kindergarten Countdown Camp has a great impact on every student who goes to it. They learn so much from their ABCs, working well with others, raising their hands, and so many more important things.

Education to me is something that is so important. It is something that you control and cannot be taken away. Knowledge is an amazing thing to be had and something that no one should take for granted.

30 Jun

Meet the Volunteers: Sheila Gerhardt

by Marketing DepartmentCategories: News

Here at United Way, we get to work with a variety of people across many different fields in many different ways. Among them are the United Way interns, volunteers and staff. Today we’d like to spotlight one of our volunteers as we continue our series of Familiar Faces Friday. Meet Sheila, a Marketing Volunteer who works primarily with writing copy and documenting United Way of Lake County’s impact on our community.

  1. What is your name? Sheila Gerhardt
  2. Where do you go to school? I recently graduated from Trinity College Dublin which is in Dublin, Ireland with my Master’s Degree. I received my Bachelor’s Degree from DePaul University.
  3. What is your major/what year in school are you? Both of my degrees are in English-Creative Writing.
  4. Where are you from? Libertyville, Illinois.
  5. What’s your favorite restaurant/food? Hands down Persian food. I’ve been going to Reza’s Restaurant in Andersonville since my mom was pregnant with me and still go there to this day!
  6. What is something interesting that no one knows about you? My great grandfather was a famous poet in Iran. All of his descendants worked in math, science, business or law, so I have this sort of special connection to him by being the sole heir to inherit his creativity and love for writing.
  7. If you had to sing one karaoke song for the rest of your life, what would it be? Kiss by Prince.
  8. What is the best movie in the world and why do you think so? Casablanca. The movie takes place in unoccupied French Morocco during WWII after the German’s have invaded France. There is a club, where most of the movie takes place, and French refugees are there, waiting to get transit papers to escape to the US. However at one particular moment a group of German soldiers take over the bar and sing the German anthem. Only a leader in the Nazi-resistence has the courage to stand up, start up the club’s band, and sing the French national anthem. The entire club joins in, drowning out the sound of the Germans. It’s still one of the most beautiful movies scenes I’ve ever witnessed.
28 Jun

Kindergarten Countdown Camp: Amy Warrington

by Marketing DepartmentCategories: News

We are thrilled to share the next post in our Kindergarten Countdown Camp (KCC) summer blog series that kicked off in Waukegan on June 19th. Up next, we have Amy Warrington KCC classroom volunteer sharing her reflection on the first weeks of camp:

My role at camp is basically to help the teachers in any way possible. This has included everything from helping kids learn how to hold a pen to taking them to the nurse. I also participate in class activities and just generally try to be a helping hand.

The most memorable part of my involvement in KCC has been hearing the kids talk about their enthusiasm for “real kindergarten” to start. Many of them have told me how much they love coming to school every day for camp, and I hope that enthusiasm continues as they begin their journey into formal education.

One teacher in particular that has impacted me is Mrs. Feldman. She is one of the most patient, kind people I have had the pleasure of meeting. Even though she always has her hands full with her class of energetic campers, she takes time to talk to the other volunteers and me about our own lives and plans for the future, which we really appreciate.

I do believe KCC is having a really big impact on the children attending. Many of them, on the first day, did not know to raise their hands for a question or how to sit correctly at a desk. I participated in some of the in-take testing and even just a week in, it is impressive how far these kids have come. The fact that they are learning how to “do school” now, instead of when the year starts, gives them a priceless advantage and opportunity to learn even more.

Education, to me, is something that is necessary to succeed today. Most opportunities a person has professionally are as a result of education. Higher education, be it through an apprenticeship, a co-op, or a four year university, education determines the course of an entire person’s life, and it starts here in kindergarten. The basics these kids learn in camp and kindergarten will be built upon for the rest of their educational careers. A strong base is necessary for later success. KCC is an important leveler to give these kids, who may not have as many opportunities as others, that strong base that will be advantageous for later in life.

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