Dear Avoca Parents:
After an extensive search that included candidates from across the country and a thorough review of the information gleaned from four rounds of interviews with our district’s administrators, parents, staff and the board of education, it is with great pleasure that I take this opportunity to introduce Dr. Jennifer Graham to you as the new principal for Avoca West School.

Dr. Graham, a resident of Deerfield, will be joining Avoca School District #37 as principal of Avoca West School, effective July 1, 2011.  Her considerable experiences and extensive knowledge of education coupled with a warm and approachable demeanor made her the candidate best suited to meet the needs of all of our constituents.

Dr. Graham brings a variety of administrative and teaching experiences to our district.  She began her career in education in Arlington Heights School District 25 (AHSD #25) as a primary level teacher, eventually moving into administrative roles as a Supported Education Facilitator and Assistant Principal.  She joined the Northern Suburban Special Education District (NSSED) as the Early Childhood Program Coordinator and later became Principal of Elizabeth Meyer School in Skokie School District 73 1/2.  Most recently, Dr. Graham returned to AHSD #25 where she currently is the Learning Enhancement Coordinator, a position in which she oversees the following district programs: English language learners, gifted and talented, advanced mathematics and advanced literacy.  She is very excited to be returning to building level administration where she can enjoy the day-to-day interaction with students, staff and parents.

Dr. Graham graduated from Boston University, Magna Cum Laude, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education.  She earned her Master of Education degree in Early Childhood Leadership and Advocacy from National-Louis University and her Doctor of Education in Administration and Supervision from Loyola University.

The Avoca Administrative Team and staff are committed to making Dr. Graham’s transition to Avoca West smooth and successful.  Throughout the remainder of the year, appropriate orientation and mentoring activities will take place to assure that, when July 1 approaches, Dr. Graham will effectively ease into the position.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Graham to the Avoca community.

Sincerely,

Kevin Jauch, Ed.D.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Shortly the staff and I will begin the process of student sectioning for the 2011-2012 school year. Students will be assigned to heterogeneous classroom groups by their current classroom teachers, as they are in the best position to make assignments.  Our sectioning process also includes the pupil services team, special area teachers, next year’s teachers, and administration.

The classroom teachers have worked with the children throughout the year and have the best handle on individual educational needs.  They are included in both the first and final steps of the sectioning process.  The staff considers and balances many factors including but not limited to:

Individual’s learning style                Teacher’s teaching style
Student combinations                Pupil services needs
Support service needs                Class size
Social/Emotional needs                 Academic characteristics
Gender balance                        Chronological age

Our placement process is a team effort that is completed with great care and consideration. We want all of our children to be successful, and we take this process very seriously.  You may want to share information or specific needs that may help us in the sectioning process.  This should be put in writing with reasons outlined and related to the balance factors listed above.  Please submit your letter to the principal’s office by April 11, 2011.

We ask that you do not make requests for placement into a specific classroom for your child.  Each child has unique characteristics and needs as a learner and as a developing child.  The perfect match for your older child may not be such a good fit for your next one.  Specific teacher requests cannot be considered, as this opportunity cannot be made available to all children.  We trust that you will rely on our professional judgment as we group the children with the idea of creating the best learning environment for everyone.

I close my letter with a sincere thank you to each of you for your cooperation, support, and understanding.  We look forward to working with you throughout the remainder of the school year.

Sincerely,

Kevin Jauch, Ed.D.
Principal

Dismissal times for Avoca West students on Wednesday, February 16th and Thursday, February 17th, 2011 are as follows:

Kindergarten – 11:15 AM

Grades 1-5 – 11:45 AM

NO SCHOOL – Friday, February 18, 2011 – Teacher Institute Day.

NO SCHOOL – Monday, February 21, 2011 – President’s Day

NO OPEN GYM – February 19-21 – due to the President’s Day holiday.

Avoca West is very proud to announce that we were once again chosen as an Apple Exemplary Program by Apple Corporation. This designation is reserved for educational programs that are model implementations of Apple products and solutions. Only programs that have demonstrated a strong use of Apple technology in education and illustrate “best practice” qualities of a 21st -century learning environment are honored this way. Members of the Apple Education Division Team were particularly impressed by our use of Apple products to create compelling projects such as digital storybooks and newspaper blogs.

Make sure you look around our district website to see examples of these projects in action!

Please see the attached document for open gym guidelines.

open gym guidelines10.11

Click the link below to see the movie starring Avoca West students talking about their priceless gifts.

Priceless Gifts AW

Click on the link below for important winter weather reminders:

Winter Weather Letter

The Students of Avoca West School District 37 would like to recognize our veterans at a Pancake Breakfast sponsored by Student Council on Veterans Day.  This is our 3rd annual Veterans Day Breakfast, and we are very pleased to extend this invitation to all of the veterans who have served our country!

When:  Thursday, November 11, 2010
Breakfast will be served from 8:30-9:30 am

Who:  All veterans and their families

Where:  Avoca West Elementary School Cafeteria, 235 Beech Dr., Glenview, IL 60025

Please RSVP to Cecilia Beneda at 847-724-6800 or benedac@avoca37.org by Tuesday, November 9th.

Our students look forward to the opportunity to meet our veterans and thank them for their service to our country!

This is just a quick reminder that school is not in session for our students on Tuesday, November 2, 2010 due to the fact that both schools are being used as polling places.

Thank you!

Congratulations are in order for Avoca West 3rd Grade Teacher Stephanie Rick who was recently recognized by the National School Board Association as being one of “20 to Watch” for Education Technology Leadership!

Mrs. Rick was recognized for her ‘point of instruction’ use of technology to enhance her students’ learning.  Her use of student blogs and e-pals were specifically cited by her nominator.

To learn more about this prestigious national honor, please click on this NSBA Press Release and scroll down to ‘Recent Releases’.

Pioneer Press has also reported on this honor in their recent article ‘Award winning teacher gets kids ‘wild about blogging’.

Mrs. Rick joins our current Avoca Technology Coordinator, Gail Soriano, and prior Avoca Technology Coordinator, Chris Brown, in this recognition.