Celebration Book Club
Donate a book to the Cherokee IRC!
A new, easy process for donating a book to the Cherokee IRC has been implemented for the 2008-2009 school year.
You may begin donating by sending a $20 check made payable to the Cherokee Activity Fund with your student on their designated IRC day. Please also include a note with the personalized dedication you would like placed in the book. Mrs. Fifhause will accept the check and allow the student to choose a book from the Celebration Book Club cart. The student will be able to check out the dedicated book that same day.
There are many reasons to celebrate Cherokee School, books can be dedicated by a scout den, brownie troop, or by a class to thank a teacher, staff, or administrator. The dedication possibilities are endless. Birthday letters are also sent to each student during their birthday month and at half birthday months for summer birthdays.
The books on the cart have been selected and purchased by Mrs. Fifhause and the money donated will replenish the proceeds used to purchase the books. This efficient process will facilitate ongoing additions of new titles to our school library. To date, 61 books have been generously donated through the Celebration Book Club and we hope you will help that number grow.
For more information on the Celebration Book Club, contact Michelle Porter at [email protected].
"The normal procedure is that a student looks at several books on the cart and then makes a choice. Occasionally, a student picks quickly, but most take their time and ask questions. The 'hardest' part for me is keeping enough books on the cart - what a wonderful problem!" Leanna Fifhause, Cherokee Information Literacy Instructor.
Time Zone
The Social Studies Museum Express underwent many changes over the summer -- a new name and a new permanent location! The Time Zone is now located at the old district administrative offices at the eastern end of the Deerpath Middle School campus. The new location is such an improvement over holding the museum at each elementary school. It has several rooms so each station can have lots of space. One of those rooms is a kitchen, so the cooking station can be done right!
In addition, thanks to a generous SPIRIT grant, the museum is fully wired and technology is now a part of each station, ranging from Power Point to computer lessons. The Time Zone is meant to be a curriculum supplement. Each grade spends a couple of hours at the Time Zone learning additional information in a hands-on environment. They spend time at 4 or 5 stations, depending on the grade level, learning about many different things.
The year started with the 4th grade State of Illinois Time Zone. It was great fun to watch the children play the Power Point version of IL Jeopardy! Next, the 1st Grade visited the Pilgrim Time Zone. They learned about the Mayflower voyage and life in a Pilgrim village, and took home mini-Mayflowers and straw brooms that they made. In January, the 3rd Grade visited the Native American Time Zone. This one contains many amazing artifacts, such as clothing, headdresses, and tools that the children can examine. In February, the Kindergartners will visit Kindertown to learn more about communities. In May, the 2nd Grade will come to the Pioneer Time Zone and learn about life on the Oregon Trail.
The Time Zone is under the guidance of former DPM social studies teacher, Susie Oh, with the help of APT Executive Board member Martha Avery. Each school has 2 coordinators. At Cherokee they are Martha Avery and Kristen DeNoble. For more information on the Time Zone program, please contact Marth Avery at [email protected] or Kristen DeNoble at [email protected]. A special thanks to all those who help facilitate this program.
The second grade Pioneer Time Zone photos are below,as well as, Kindertown photos and the third grade class visit to the Native American Time Zone.