| Education in the News
by Bob McParland

Congratulations to our schools and staff !
Illinois State Superintendent C.
Koch congratulated District 130 as the
Spotlight School Award for the 2009
Honor Roll went to George Washington
Elementary School Nathan Hale
Primary School and Nathan Hale Intermediate
School.
This means that almost 60% met
or exceeded standards in reading and
math in 2009, and 50% met or exceeded
the standards in reading and math
in 2006 and 2007. Only 425 in Illinois
are spotlight schools.
The Academic Improvement Award
went to Nathan Hale Middle School
which showed an upward trend in state
test results and improvement of at least
7.5 points in state test scores in reading
and math between 2008 and 2009, and
an improvement of at least 15 points
in state test scores in both reading and
math between 2007 and 2008. Only
147 schools in Illinois received this
award.

St. Benedict eighth grade students excel
Special congratulations to Ryan Barr
who had one of the top scorers on the
St. Rita High School entrance exam.
He was awarded a $2,500 Academic
Scholarship, renewable each year, for
a total of $10,000. Jerry Martinez was
awarded an Academic Scholarship from
St. Rita High School. He will receive
$1,000 for the first year for scoring in
the 94th percentile on the entrance
exam.
Special congratulations to Regina
Bressanelli, who scored in the 99th percentile
on the Mother McAuley High
School exam. Regina will be awarded
a $2,000 Academic Scholarship. Congratulations
to Diana Sanchez, who
scored in the 98th percentile on the
Mother McAuley entrance exam. Diana
will receive a $500 scholarship.

National Kids’ Art Contest
Highlights Importance of
Endangered Species
Youngsters around the country will celebrate Endangered Species Day 2010
by entering the Endangered Species Art contest. The art contest is part of the
fifth annual national Endangered Species Day, celebrated on and around May
21, 2010.
The Endangered Species Day Art Contest is organized by the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, the Endangered Species Coalition, the Association of Zoos and
Aquariums and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art/University of New Orleans.
The deadline to enter is March 26.
Winners will be chosen in four age categories (K-Grade 2, Grades 3-6,
Grades 7-9, Grades 10-12), and the winning artwork will be displayed at the
Ogden Museum/ University of New Orleans. One national winner will be
honored at a reception in Washington, D.C., and the winner’s name will be
engraved on a special trophy. Initial judging will be conducted by the Ogden
Museum of Southern Art, a Smithsonian Affiliate. The final winners will be
chosen by a national panel of artists, educators, scientists and others.
Artwork should highlight one or more endangered species—mammal, bird,
reptile, amphibian, fish, plant, and/or invertebrate (insect, spider, snail, coral,
crustacean or clam)—found in the United States. Entrants are encouraged to
depict species local species.
Endangered Species Day is a celebration of our nation’s wildlife and wild
places. Started in 2006 by the United States Congress, Endangered Species Day
is the third Friday of May. The 5th Anniversary of Endangered Species Day will
be celebrated on May 21, 2010. Endangered Species Day is an opportunity for
young and old to learn about the everyday actions that people can take to help
protect our nation’s disappearing wildlife and last remaining wild places.
For more information on the contest and a list of endangered plants and
animals, visit http://www.fws.gov/endangered/

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