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Fox "Our school is entirely dif­ ferent ^rom the public schools. We're not competing. It's an alternative." Those were the words of Marshall Werry, principal of the Fox Valley Christian school, serving grades K-12 from its location on Front street in McHenry. Approximately seventy students will attend Fox Valley this coming fall, with enrollment having remained stable during the past several years. . There are ninety schools similar to Fox Valley throughout Illinois, and thousands around the country. (Continued from page 13) program^ is for students with serious reading problems," Dr. Jones said. The students enroll in the program strictly on a volunteer basis. The students with the serious reading problems have been identified, and nearly 100 percent of the children who experience dif­ ficulty reading, volunteered to take the remedial program. Eighty-six students in all are enrolled in the remedial program this fall. Also, for the second con­ secutive year, Harrison will lease home economics and industrial arts classrooms from Parkland school (McHenry school district), for the purpose of sending its seventh and eighth grade students there to take courses in those two areas. The program was instituted last year, and was so successful that it is being repeated. "District No. 15 (McHenry grade schools) has cooperated beautifully with us on this," Dr. Jones said. "We cannot afford to put in home economics and industrial arts facilities here." Thus, during those periods when Parkland students are not using the industrial arts and home economics rooms, Harrison students will be using them. Enrollment for the eight grades plus kindergarten at Harrison this coming year totals 480 students, down slightly from the 504 who at­ tended the school in 1976. Dr. Jones reported that enrollment has remained fairly level in recent years, but projections indicate a slight decline in coming years. With the decline in enrollment, Harrison, this year, is leasing five classrooms to the special education district, for their-use. Special education classes are offered throughout the county for those students with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. Another new look at Harrison this coming year will be a- different approach to athletics. Harrison will not compete in an athletic conference, and there will be no Harrison 'teams'. Instead, there will be an extensive intramural program, which will - enable more students to participate, rather than 'just having the more gifted athletes represent the school. Last year, the athletic program was taken over by parents and concerned citizens of the school district, after the administration determined that it. could no longer finance an elaborate athletic program. This year, the athletic program has been taken over again by the school district, with total emphasis being placed on intramurals, and getting as many students in­ volved as possible. "We're also gearing up toward metrics," Dr. Jones reported in commenting on the math and science programs. "Fractions will be 'out', I guess," he laughed. Fractions will probably be the only thing 'out' at Harrison this coming year. The faculty, staff, and administrators are excited about the coming year, in helping make Harrison an 'in' school as far as education is concerned. A SUPPLEMENT TO McHENRY PLAINDEALER - PAGE 14 - FRIDAY; AUGUST M, 1*77 pages of arithmetic, or whatever. If, at the end of the day he hasn'treached his goals, he must take his work home. Then, if it still isn't done, he loses his privileges." Normally, each student receives a break each hour, depending on^whether he or she is working at an A, B, or C level. 'A' level workers receive -a ten-minute break each hour, a 4B' level worker receives a twenty-minute break, and a 'C' level student is not restricted at all, but can come and go as he pleases. There are two categories of students at Fox Valley-those learning to read and those reading to learn. Using that distinction, all students are located in one of two large * rooms, with each student having his own 'office' in the room. Instruction at Fox Valley utilizes tape recorders ex­ tensively. "We have one-to-one instruction instead of one-to- thirty," Werry said. "Our school is strictly a Christian school. Every piece of our .curriculum revolves around God. We strongly develop patriotism, family structure, etc. We start each day with devotions and the Pledge of Allegiance. "We write all our own curriculums," Werry added. "We're fully accredited through the American Association of ' Christian Marshall Werry While Werry said that nothing new is planned for his school this year,.the school itself is 'new'. What happens at Fox Valley is something called Accelera ted Chr is t ian education (ACE). Instead of having one classroom for each twenty-five children or so, each student has his or her own classroom. In his 'office', the student has a bulletin board, on which he lists his goals for the day, as well as other pertinent in­ formation. "For every child, the first thing he does each day, is set his goals for the day," Werry said. "He then gets his goals approved, and then must meet them, whether it is doing five Schools and the Stale Association of Christian Schools." Werry points with pride to the fact that "our kindergarten children come out reading fifty to eighty words a minute. It's just old-fashioned methods," he added. "We're doing nothing new, just using methods that haven't been used for years. In every subject studied, Fox Valley does not discriminate between students on the basis of grade level. For example, a student may be at a fourth grade level in arithmetic, a second grade level in history, and a sixth grade level in reading. That particular student would work on material comparable to the level he can handle. A sixth grade student will not be forced to attempt to handle sixth grade arithmetic if he can only work at a fourth grade level. Werry believes that this type of individual instruction is the best type of education for his students. There is always a teacher available for a student any time he or she needs one. The staff at Fox Valley in­ cludes five paid workers plus parents who volunteer their time. "We always have bet­ ween two and three parents who volunteer each day," Werry concluded. Fox Valley Christian school- it's different--and for the seventy students who attend school there, it works. St. John's Band Instrument Rentals FROM TONES Let your child experience the joy of performing in the school band. All students are eligible io take part in the in­ strumental program of their respective schools. I wessons and band are offered through the whooln at no charge excepting that the student furnish his own instrument. For details of the total school band program, we suggest that you contact your school's band director. Parents from area schools can also obtain full information by calling us at 815-385-4646 or stopping in at our store. Don't sign any rontal contract have talked to us. Remember at Tones we offer quality ia-^ struments, reasonable rentals, efficient service, plus many extras that only can be offered by a local store. IT SERVING \ MUSICAL McHENRY SINCE 1964" 815-385-4646 ONES Across From Jewel Food r J* 4 « * » * < * •*, <• » M 3719-23 W. ELM STREET McHfSNRY, ILL. 60050 "Our aim at St. John's is to give the children an education which incorporates a high quality of scholastic excellence and Christian principles. We offer an opportunity for children, parents, and teachers to learn and grow as a Christian community in which the dignity and uniqueness of each person as a child of God is respected. We offer all an opportunity to live their faith with others." That is the philosophy at St. John's Catholic grade school (grades 1-8) in Johnsburg, which is headed by Father Leo Bartel, and Sister Viola Koenigsfeld, who is the prin­ cipal of St. John's. In an effort to unite religion and education, the staff at the school has devised an extensive program which will insure the continued development of the child. Formal religion classes are required daily, and religion texts that are used have been approved by the diocese. The Sacramental program at St. John's involves not only the adults of the parish, but the children as well. The teaching staff prepares those receiving the sacraments by teaching the theology of the sacraments, history and tradition, rites, and also prayers. It is the school's desire that the school community live, learn, and grow in the circle of Christian love with behavior that is fitting for a community of God's people. This requires that students and faculty have mutual respect for each other, and for each other's property. Each person is to be treated as an individual in his or her own right. Sister Viola stresses that "we are a community needing the interest, the understanding, and the support of. all. Therefore, communication from parents concerning complaints, requests, in­ formation, reports, etc., is to be directed to the persons in­ volved , be they teacher; principal, school board member, or pastor. We urge you to come forward with difficulties to the persons in­ volved. Any unresolved dif­ ficulties are to be brought to the school board." The faculty at St. John's features seven full-time in­ structors, and includes an additional nun this year. Sister Barbara Jean Potthast is a new member, and will be teaching third grade. She is a member of the School Sisters of St. Francis, Rockford province. She has seventeen years teaching experience and has been a primary grade teacher at Alvernocollege (Milwaukee) lab school for the past three years. She has also been the director of music in four parishes. She has a bachelor degree in education from Alverno, and a master degree in early child education from the University of Arizona. Incidentally, registration, tuition payment, and book fee payment, is all scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 28, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. School at St. John's will begin with .a half- day Sept. 6. Once again this year, sixth, seventh and eighth grade students at St John's will spend |ialf of each school day at Johnsburg junior high school. While at the junior high, the students will be able to take courses which can't be offered at St.. John's, such as home- economics, drafting, etc. Also again this year, all grades, 1-8, will be taking the Sci&icd Research association test, in compliance with the Rockford diocese. The diocese requires only that students in grades 2,4,6, and 8 take the exam, but for a continuing evaluation, the test will be given to all students. Certainly, religion is em­ phasized at St. John's. However, religion is taught in conjunction with reading, math, science, etc. There is - also stress pl&ced on celebrating the concepts in hiturgy through the year. Emphasis is put on reading at St. John's. The reading curriculum at the school follows the skills sequence of one main series of readers for grades one through seven, supplemented by a remedial series of readers for those students who need more em­ phasis on certain skills. Eighth graders use a literature series. All readers are identified by level numbers that run from one to fourteen rather than by grade, so that students use the readers according to ability rather than their grade. Certain skills are emphasized in all the readers, regardless of grade. In the primary grades, great emphasis is placed on decoding skills> which enable the child to sound out words. Also, phonics are drilled as a separate subject as welf as taught in connection with reading. Phonics continues to be a part of reading in the in­ termediate grades. Dictionary work becomes very important as the emphasis in vocabulary work begins to change from recognizing familiar spoken words in print, to enlarging the working vocabulary by lear­ ning the meanings of new words. In the junior high grades, study skills receive great emphasis, and reading, for different purposes becomes a main objective. The eighth grade program introduces the skills of literature analysis and interpretation. St. John's also features a physical education program. In grades 1,2, and 3, the gym program stresses the development of motor skills. Besides providing a sturctured physical education experience, this program is designed to develop coordination skills which have an effect on the child's perception, and will influence his ability to read and write. Small group classes meet twice a week in classrooms staffed by at least two adults. The lessons follow a developmental program, (Continued on page 15)