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PAGE 4 - PLAINDEALER-WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1974 District 156 Up-Date This year, McHenry Secondary School District 156 will publish a column in the Plaindealer which, for the reader's convenience, will be titled District 156 Up-Date. The goal of the column will be to acquaint the public with what is happening in your high schools, with special emphasis on the instructional programs. Hopefully, the column will be printed on a bi-weekly basis. Some articles will deal with long and short range in­ structional programs. In these articles, an effort will be made to get first-hand input from the teachers involved. Other items will include coverage of dif­ ferent types of classroom ac­ tivities and descriptions or clarifications of administrative policies as they relate to par­ ticular situations in the McHenry school district. Quite honestly, we as educators are very proud of McHenry's school system and its educational program. We feel that the McHenry taxpayer should also be aware of the many fine educational ac­ tivities which our scho9l district is sponsoring The column will provide us with a tool to help keep you informed. It will also allow us to recognize staff members who are sin­ cerely trying to relate the educational process to the needs of the community's youth. It should also be. men­ tioned that the coverage in the "Up-Date" column will not be an exhaustive list of what is good in the McHenry school system. Inevitably, some programs will be overlooked and in other cases, time will -Mmit the scope of what is described during one school year. However, an attempt will be made to provide a representative picture^ of the District 156 programs. Hopefully, you will become a regular reader of District 156 Up-Date. The Plaindealer has suggested that it will try to accommodate our attempt at providing a bi-weekly column, but no guarantee can be made that the "Up-Date" will appear on a regular basis in any one edition. The following Jwo descrip­ tions summarize a new curriculum approach of our Science department at the East campus and the ongoing Data Processing course at the West campus. NEW CURRICULUM APPROACH IN SCIENCE This year, the Science department at the East campus has re-designed its curriculum in order to provide for greater choice and more specialized classroom coverage. Previously, the three basic courses, General Science, Earth Science, and Biology, were offered. With the new curriculum, these selections have been replaced with elective type courses which a student can select based upon his-her needs and interests. For example, in the past, a freshman was limited to enrolling in General Science and Earth Science to fulfill the science requirement. In con­ trast, this year a selection can be made from the following semester courses: Winds and Weather, Physical Geography; Behavior and Psychology, Practical Botany, Physical Science, Earth Science, and Astronomy. Some of the other courses wKich are available for East campus students on a semester basis are Evolution and Heredity, Plants and Animals, Physiology (Plant, Animal, Human), and Ecology and B^avior, It is the feeling of the Sdence department that the present curriculum offers choices to students based upon personal interest. Ap­ propriately, a review of the various offerings suggest a wide range of topics covered within the new science plan to fit different preferences. Student needs are also ad­ dressed through the new curriculum. A case in point is the college-bound student. These students can select a rigorous course of study in the freshman and sophomore years by enrolling in courses such as Earth Science, Introduction tc Biology, and Biology II. The other semester offerings alsc remain options available tc these students. As a result of the new ad­ ditions, the Science department boasts an increase in course offerings from three basic year courses to the new curriculum figures of three-year offerings and ten semester electives. In assessing the present program, department mem­ bers feel that more student flexibility in scheduling, greater appeal to student in­ terests, a more practical ap­ proach to classroom in­ struction, and an attempt to provide for different student needs are natural advantages associated with the new ap­ proach. One teacher suggested that it allows the students to get away from a continuous text­ book approach and get their "hlands in dirt." This assessment points out the opportunity provided in many of the new courses to become increasingly involved in laboratory experiences which take the students out of the school building into more natural surroundings. Field trips are a prominent part of this new thrust. An effort is also being made by department members to bring nature into a classroom instructional setting when possible. Through the in­ novative efforts of teachers and students, the East Campus Science area offers a "greenhouse" type lab rooms for students to carry out experiments in courses like Practical Botany. The department even has designed its own weather station for student use. A quick tow- through the Science area gives evidence that department members are not willing to let the confined classroom facilities limit their creative approach to education. However, it is the feeling of the staff that with more space, more could and should be done. After talking with staff members, it became evident that this impressive program didn't come easily. In many cases, the new courses are unique onto themselves. No textbooks or other teacher aids are available. As a result, the teachers have and continue to spend many extra house designing new lesson plans and other instructional activities. Also, the desire to provide new offerings requires the Science department to increase the number of individual in­ structional preparations on a daily basis. Despite these in­ conveniences, it seems to be a shared department attitude that the problems of designing a new curriculum are far outweighed by the satisfaction of creating a curriculum that is more relevant to student needs and interests. KEEPING UP TO DATE IN DATA PROCESSING For the last three years, the McHenry West campus has offered a course of study in Data Processing. The teacher of the course, Ron Schmitt, describes the offering as an effort to provide an educational program which reflects the "real world of work." More specifically, Data Processing teaches students the "theory and use of machines in dealing with facts and figures in the business world today." Experiences in the course range from an in­ troductory understanding of the basics of automation to the rather complicated operation of the computer. In the present school year, a total of forty-five students have enrolled in the Data Processing classes. Instructional ex­ periences are provided for these students through a well equipped classroom. West Campus Data Processing equipment includes four key punches, a reproducer, an a c c o u n t i n g m a c h i n e (tabulator), and a sorter. As previously mentioned, some of the actual classroom activities involve working with a computer. To accommodate the need to provide experiences in this area, students are able to use computer time at the McHenry County College center. Students learn to work with two conyjuter languages, Cobol and Fortran, and actually write com­ puter programs and run the programs through the computer After talking with Mr. Sch­ mitt, it seems that his en­ thusiasm for the course is shared by participating students. In his word, "I can't seem to give enough to the kids - they get involved so much that its difficult to keep up with them." Regular classroom work is supplemented with some "change of pace" type student activities. For example, the class participates in a treasure hunt with clues provided on data processing cards. Also, student knowledge |0f equipment use is tested through participation in the annual Data Processing College Bowl. Additional first hand observation of equipment use is provide^ through periodic field trips during the school year. West campus students can also enroll in the Unit Record Equipment class. As described by Mr. Schmitt, this course concentrates on the use of the keypunch and prepares the student for a job involving the use of that equipment. In ad­ dition, those students who wish to pursue data processing work in greater depth can enroll in McHenry County college courses for high school credit. Presently, three students are involved in this type of ad- 1 Will Your Mailbox Look Like This? November 6th, 1974 m & ift flfS W I It Could In 1975 .... . . . . I f You Join Our Christmas Club TOD A Y! .We Will Help Yon From Choose A Club The Selection 50s Each Week For Club Term Pays •1.00 Each Week For Club Term Pays •2.00 Each Week For Club Term Pays *3.00 Each Week For Club Term Pays '5.00 Each Week For Club Term Pays •10.00 Each Week For Club Term Pays *20.00 Each Week For Club Term Pays That's Right For Yoi Below ! •25.00 Plus Interest *50.00 Plus Interest *100.00 Plus Interest *150.00 Plus Interest *250.00 Plus Interest •500.00 Plus Interest *1000.00 Plus Interest AMcHenry State Bank 3510 West Elm Street ' McHenry Phone 385-1040 Five McHenry Seniors Attend On-Campus Day Five McHenry students were among the students who at­ tended the first 1974 On- Campus Day at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Oct. 14. Although designated "Illinois Day," the college preview was attended by Wisconsin students and parents as well. The vanced learning experience. After talking with Ron Sch­ mitt, it is rather evident that his programs at the West campus allow students in the McHenry area to remain up to date in their study of the operation and use of modern business equipment. The courses are challenging to student participants, but the enthusiasm of the teacher and students seems to show that the challenge of learning can be both interesting and practical. visitors met with ad­ ministrators and faculty, visited classroom buildings, residence and dining halls, and attended a class of their choice. They were able to discuss academic plans with depart­ ment chairmen, faculty, and students. UW-Whitewater will host a second On-Campus day Saturday, Nov. 7, when visitors can observe the University in "full swing" while high schools are closed for the Wisconsin Teacher Convention. The program will begin at 10 a.m. in Hyer auditorium, continuing until 3 p.m. Other opportunities for high schooUeniors and their parents to visit campus will be held' Saturday, Dec. 7, and Friday, Feb. 28 All On-Campus Days feature general information about student living on campus, admissions requirements and procedures,; academic programs, and financial aids available to freshmen. Seniors interested in at­ tending an On-Campus Day are invited to notify the Admissions Office, Baker Hall. UW- Whitewater, Whitewater, Wis., 53190, which date they prefer. The students, all seniors at West Campus, McHenry, who attended the Oct. 14 On- Campus event were: Pat Es^is, 2217 W. Fernview; Chtfryl Groff,. 4809 W. Crystal Lake Road; Donna Munyon, 2209 W. Fairview; Colleen Rogers, 43^6 W Shore Drive, and Deborah Wolf, 2604 W. Lincoln Road. JOINS HONOR SOCIETY New members were initiated into the Delta chapter of Omicron Nu, the national honor society that recognizes and promotes scholarship, leadership, and research in Home Economics Membership is limited to the upper 10 per cent of the junior class and the upper 20 per cent of the senior class. Also chosen are graduate students, faculty members and national honorary members. Donna J. Rakowsky, 501 N. Mineral Spring, McHenry was one of those. BACK FIRE PREVENTION-Ron Henges, left, a third grader, and James Kling, in fourth grade, seem genuinely impressed to meet the famous Smoky, the Bear, during his visit to St. John's school, Johnsburg, during Fire Prevention week. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD Fire prevention was an "Important part of the curriculum recently for students of St. John the Baptist school in Johnsburg. The week was filled with discussions and activities about fire prevention and conservation in their homes, school and surrounding environment. Activities included fire drills, with an exit blocked; trips to the Johnsburg Fire depart­ ment; an alphabet "do's and don'ts" about fire; table games about fire prevention; a play with a theme of careless campers to be presented later; hiking on the Johnsbutg nature trail; songs about prevention and conservation, and learning the conservation pledge. The most exciting feature of the week was a visit by Smoky, the bear. Smoky came equipped with badges, rulers and stickers for the children. He spent time in each class explaining what students could do to prevent fires in the forests. Enthusiasm was high after Smoky left information on how they could qualify as junior forest rangers. S WEARHOUSE THE LEISURE LOOK THE EXCITING NEW LOOK FOR GENTLEMEN! BIKE JAC is of 100% polyester knit with epaulets, patch pockets and contrasting stitching. Completely washable. THE SHIRT JAC is also of 100% polyester double knit. 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