Powerschool for Students

I wanted to let you all know that as of this quarter, students will also be receiving Powerschool passwords so that they can monitor their own grades. A central component to the R.O.A.R. philosophy, is for students to take ownership of their own learning. It is our belief that the Powerschool software is a powerful tool, that can help all of our students take a vested interest in their grades.

Parent Math Class

The next Parent Math Class is just around the corner. The class is set for Thursday, February 18 from 7-8:30. We are looking for feedback so that we are providing a class that is beneficial. Please take a few minutes to complete the attached survey.

Parent Math Survey

PG Haiti Support Update

Prairie Grove School collected donations to help with the earthquake catastrophe in Haiti. Donations were made to Doctors Without Borders an independent humanitarian organization. This service project was closely tied to our ROAR program at school. We are very proud to have collected as a district $2,338.10! Thank you for your support in helping the people of Haiti. Prairie Grove Consolidated School District 46 prides itself on the outstanding volunteerism and dedication that the people of the community give.

Order 2009-10 PGJHS Yearbooks Now

The Prairie Grove Junior High yearbooks are for sale now. Be sure to purchase your yearbooks by the end of February. You can get an order form from the front office. Yearbooks can be purchased for $18.00 cash or check (made out to Prairie Grove School District). Yearbooks are purchased in advance only, so don't wait another day to order yours.

If you have questions see Mrs. Levy or Mrs. Terrill.

6th Grade Explores Clean Energy

Over the past two weeks the 6th Grade Science class has been discussing "Energy Resources", which includes topics such as fossil fuels, renewable sources of energy, nuclear energy and energy conservation. Attempting to gain the interest of all the students the class employed a variety of hands-on activities, video clips, student-directed research projects and games teach the topics. Mrs. Noel Thelander is a sales representative for a company known as MONARCH Renewable Energy, LLC which sells wind turbines and other energy saving products like the GREEN SWITCH. We discussed my curriculum and she studied Chapter 5 in her daughter's science book in order for her to come up with the lesson plan for Friday January 22nd. She brought a short video clip and a company power point which dealt with alternate energy sources and wind turbines. After her presentation, we moved to the elem. gym where we viewed an actual wind turbine. The turbine was opened on one side so the students could see the simplicity of the working machinery. The three blade turbine stood 12 foot tall as it stood on a short part of its long stand. We also looked at the GREEN SWITCH, and Mrs. Thelander demonstrated how it worked and the great energy savings it could provide to a homeowner. I would have to say that it was a very good learning experience and the students had fun too.

PR Foreign Language Visits

On Tuesday, January 26, 2010, the foreign language club from Prairie Ridge High School will pay a visit to our 8^th grade class. While they are here, the students will give a variety of presentations that highlight the foreign language classes and clubs available at Prairie Ridge. The 8^th graders will be introduced to some common vocabulary and phrases from Spanish, German and Chinese. The high school students do a wonderful job sharing their perspectives and experiences. The 8^th grade students truly appreciate the question and answer portion of this presentation and walk away with a new understanding of the benefits a foreign language may provide.

H1N1 Clinic Set

We are pleased to announce that Centegra Health Systems, in cooperation with the McHenry County Department of Health, will be providing H1N1 vaccination clinics for students who attend District 46 schools. VOLUNTARY H1N1 vaccination clinics are being held after school at the location, day, and times listed below. We are partnering with District 155 and D 47 to provide these clinics at one main central location for students throughout all districts. Please note that Hannah Beardsley has been designated as the District 46 H1N1 site for our students.

February 1^st – 4-7 PM at

Hannah Beardsley MS

Prairie Grove Junior High

Prairie Grove Elementary

Prairie Ridge High School

Please see the flyer in the link below, for additional information regarding registration.

H1N1 Registration

PGJH Supports Haiti

In an effort to provide aide to organizations assisting the people of Haiti, Prairie Grove students will be collecting money this week at school. By the end of this week, we will be donating all proceeds to Doctors Without Borders, one of many organizations working diligently to provide emergency health services to the devastated nation. If you are interested in learning more about this organization, you can visit them at their website. Please take time tonight to talk to your children about the challenges in Haiti, and the importance of helping out when you can. As in the past, we are certain that the Prairie Grove community will come forth with great generosity!

PAC

Attention Parents,

I would like to invite you to our next scheduled meeting on January 16th from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. The topic will be technology and we will be combining with the Elementary Parent Advisory Council. Please join us in the Elementary Computer Lab and you are more than welcome to join the PTO Meeting at 6:30.

The tentative agenda for Tuesday is the following:

1. Review Technology in Strategic Plan
2. Our New Technology Mission
3. Current Prairie Grove Technology
4. Parent Feedback

Have a great weekend and hope to see you on Tuesday!

Spelling Bee Qualifiers!

Congratulations and best of luck to all of our grade level spelling bee winners! If you happen to see Anita, Paul, Jessica, Emily, Aaditya, Shelby, Ashtynn, Ray, Julia, Robin, Jake, or Jenna, be sure to give them a pat of the back for a job well-done! We are all very proud of how well you all did in the grade level competitions, and we are looking forward to the All-School Bee, taking place tomorrow afternoon in the Multi-Purpose Room. Parents are welcome to join us! Just sign in at the JH Office and we will send you in the right direction. The event is scheduled to begin at 1:20. We hope to see you there.

Girls on the Run/Girls on Track Registration Opens Jan. 28

Girls on the Run (Grades 3-5) and Girls on Track (Grades 6-8) are after-school curriculum-based programs for girls that focus on building positive body image and self-esteem while training to run a 5K race. We are pleased to offer these programs here at Prairie Grove for the third year. The after-school lessons and workouts begin during the week of March 22. We meet twice a week for 10 weeks, then run in the New Balance Girls on the Run 5K on June 6, 2010. Online registration begins January 28 and will close on February 27. Please watch for more details in the next few weeks, or visit www.mchenrycountygotr.org for more information. We are also looking for one or two adult women to volunteer as coaches for the Girls on Track program on the Junior High side. If you are interested in coaching, please contact Carol Hamlin Fauré at cfaure@dist46.org. We look forward to another exciting season of friendship, fun, and fitness!

PTO/PAC

I want to remind all of the parents out there that we value your participation in many of our decision making processes. In that spirit, I want to invite all of you to attend our Parent Advisory Council. This group meets and discusses a variety of issues that arise here at the school. On Tuesday, January 19 we will be combining the Elementary and Junior High parent councils as we discuss Technology and how it is impacting the learning of our students. We hope to see you in the Elementary Computer Lab at 5:30. Anyone who can stay for the PTO meeting at 6:30 is welcome as well.

Prairie Grove District Project Pennies for Peace a Big Success

Be sure to check out the district web page for the NW Herald articles about our successful Pennies for Peace district project.

The Prairie Grove community was very generous and supportive of the project. The students contributed $1990.21 to the Pennies for Peace organization which builds schools for children in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The teachers read the Young Readers version of the book Three Cups of Tea and Listen to the Wind by Greg Mortenson, the founder of the Pennies for Peace project.

A big thanks goes to our PTO who very generously donated the money to purchase the books so that each classroom was actively involved in the project through read-alouds and discussions and other curriculum related activities.

D 46 Strategic Plan

I want to remind everyone in the Prairie Grove JH community that we have a number of district and school-based improvements efforts guiding us into the next decade. While we are very proud of "where" we are, we are always looking forward toward "what's next". If you would like to see a summary of our progress in these areas, please visit www.dist46.org and click on the "Strategic Plan" link on the right.

New Cell Phone Laws in Illinois

As of January 1st, 2010, the state of Illinois is banning the use of cell phones by drivers in school zones. This may affect Prairie Grove families as they pick up and drop off their students. Please be aware of the new law and be sure to understand that this law means we are not allowed to use our cell phones while operating vehicles in the school zone. This zone includes our parking lot as well. For more information visit http://www.drivinglaws.org/ill.php.

Spelling Bee

PGJH is proud to announce the 2010 Scripps Spelling Bee. We are looking for "a few good spellers"! Over the next two weeks, students will be participating in a number of rounds of the 2010 Bee. At the grade levels each student will take an entrance test. The top 10-15 students from this test will advance to the grade level bee. In this second round, there will be an oral competition leading to the advancement of the top 4-5 spellers from each grade level, to the school-wide bee. This school-wide bee is scheduled to take place during the afternoon of January 14th. At this competition, we will determine the school champion, who will represent Prairie Grove Jr. High at the Regional Bee in February. Good luck spellers!!

Welcome Back!!!

I just wanted to take this opportunity to welcome all students back to school after the long winter holiday. The staff here at PGJH is excited to have you all back here at school! As the new year gets off to a start, we want to encourage all of you to reflect upon your academic successes and failures in 2009. What plans to you have for 2010, in order to continue your successes and work upon your failures? Life and maturity is about self awareness. Don't forget to take time to plan out some short and long-term goals to serve as your compass for 2010. Share your goals with your parents, teachers, and friends. Often they can help in ways we never imagined. Verbalizing your goals makes them more real, and keeps us accountable for pursuing them as the year moves on. With a little focus and drive, I am sure that you will all have a great deal of success in the new year.