On the Same Page
On the Same Page: Status Report
May 1, 2005
David W. Magill, Director
What a great ending to the 2004-2005 school year! The weather cooperated and many
have reported to me that Rites of May was never better. A new tradition was started
with an All-Sports award ceremony in Kovler Gym at which the Monilaw medal was
reinstituted. Both the eighth grade and high school commencements confirmed the
accomplishments and talents of those moving on to their next educational phase.
And on the last day of school, a new three-year collective bargaining agreement
between the Faculty Association and University was ratified.
This year-end issue of On the Same Page is intended to serve as a status
report of this year's Goals and Objectives.
Goal I. To Improve the Educational Program
Objective A. Organize programs and processes related to curriculum development
and review, professional development, and new teacher orientation
Curriculum development and review
Using carefully prepared behavioral, skill, and content objectives written
in 2003-2004 by each department, teachers Peggy Doyle and Catie Bell collaborated
with faculty and wrote curriculum narratives for the Lab Schools' web site
(http://www.ucls.uchicago.edu/academics/curriculum/).
By posting our curricular goals and objectives in narrative strands on the public
web site, we all have a better understanding of what is happening in our Schools.
Teachers working in different departments have the opportunity to further develop
cross-discipline and cross-schools curricular coherency, and each year the Schools
can evaluate what works, what needs improvement, and what needs to be added or deleted.
Along these lines, the Lower School has incorporated Everyday Mathematics
into the study of mathematics at every grade level and now turns its attention to
the discipline of social studies. This summer the Math, History, Foreign Language,
Science, Humanities, and Music Departments are engaged in significant curriculum writing.
After many years of discussion, the Foreign Language Department will offer Asian
language study. A first-year course will be piloted in U-High beginning Fall 2006.
Despite the challenge of finding common times to meet, teachers have committed
themselves to participating in study groups in order to investigate issues
important to the curriculum and to the future of Lab Schools. At present,
eight study groups—Life After Lab, Freedom, New Innovations, Time,
Electronic Media, Schools Attuned, Literacy, and Health and
Wellness—have met and intend to meet during the 2005-2006 year.
Professional development
New funding has encouraged teachers to participate in a wide range of professional
growth activities including, for example, participation in conferences on early
childhood education in Reggio Emilia, Italy, and on brain research in Boston.
Teachers have attended seminars conducted by the Newberry Teachers Consortium,
the Chicago Area Writers Project, and Exeter Academy. Through surveys and
focused interviews, Lab Schools' teachers have shown themselves to be committed
to life-long learning and excellence in teaching.
A second day of professional development is an outgrowth of the new contract,
as is a new evaluation program that gives each teacher an opportunity to focus
on professional growth. Beginning with the eleventh year of teaching, this
opportunity will occur every five years.
New teacher orientation
This year a school-wide new faculty orientation program was launched,
inducting new teachers into our community, giving them the opportunity to
learn about freedoms, responsibilities, and resources. They met together every
two weeks during the first semester. New teachers' evaluations enthusiastically
endorsed the program's utility, and their comments contributed to program improvements.
Objective B. Establish a pilot program to enrich and improve the senior
year experience
Two new programs were initiated and one long-standing tradition was enhanced to
provide meaningful experiences for students in Grade 12.
- The Senior Instructional Leadership Corps (SILC) sent eight senior volunteers
into each of the Schools' divisions to assist teachers. Several continued their
volunteer efforts throughout the spring term as well. The participating seniors
and cooperating teachers reported that the experience was very positive and recommended
continuing the program.
- A Senior Advisor position was established to give seniors an opportunity to
consult with a faculty member who could assist with the many responsibilities
afforded to seniors, to try out new ideas and/or vent frustrations.
- Finally, a service component was added to the options available for senior
May Projects. Thirteen seniors worked with organizations such as Habitat for
Humanity and Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly, and worked in places as
close as Back of the Yards and as far as Ghana.
Objective C. Record data to assess educational program effectiveness by using
pre-established Quality Indicators
The 2004-2005 school year served as the baseline year to record data related to
the nine Quality Indicators established by the All-Schools Council during the
2003-2004 school year. This summer, the data will be organized in a format to
chart future progress.
Objective D. Decide upon future high school size
At the beginning of the school year, John Kasarda, an experienced demographer
from the University of North Carolina, was commissioned to assess the expansion
potential for University High School. He completed his report in January and
concluded that demand for admission will continue to exist for the foreseeable
future and that "the high school could expand by 25 students per year for four
years and maintain this 100 student greater size without any compromise in student
quality."
In addition, the Board of Directors authorized the administration to prepare a
new Master Plan for the Schools to address, among other things, the acquisition
of Judd Hall and the potential enlargement of the High School.
Objective E. Establish new professional connections with the University
For the first time, the Schools compiled a log of all activities involving
programs or individuals associated with the University of Chicago. Each of
our divisions took advantage of cooperative relationships ranging from serving
as a research site for the Department of Psychology and Committee on Human Development
to hearing guest lectures from professors.
- Several professors at the University worked individually with seniors
as part of their May Projects.
- Classes continued visitations of University facilities including the Smart
Gallery, the Renaissance Society, Robie House, Oriental Institute, and Regenstein Library.
- The web site redesign was completed in collaboration with NSIT's Web Services
office, and we will soon be subscribing to their new Content Management System.
- Several departments have consulted with their higher education counterparts on
matters of curriculum.
Beginning Fall 2005, Catie Bell and Andrea Martonffy will facilitate professional
connections with the University. On November 4, 2005, Lab Schools' Professional
Development Day, we will hold "Extending Human Vistas: Our Common Task," a
conference devoted to this subject. Martha Nussbaum has graciously agreed to speak.
Following past practice, Lab faculty can audit University of Chicago classes for
free, with the permission of the instructor.
Objective F. Establish expected technology competencies for graduates
The Computer Science Department developed a preliminary list of competencies for
graduating seniors. The areas of competencies included are computer operations,
keyboarding, word processing, database, graphics, spreadsheets, electronic
research, communications, multimedia presentations, and technology and society.
This preliminary listing will be reviewed and refined with the faculty leading
to decisions as to when and where the competencies will be addressed instructionally.
Objective G. Initiate a health and wellness curriculum review—N-12
Several major areas of wellness are included in current Lab Schools' curricula
and programs. Physical wellness encompasses nutrition, physical fitness, strength
and agility, personal hygiene, drug and alcohol education and awareness, human
growth and reproduction, and sexuality education. Psychological and social well
being are addressed by anti-bias and diversity curricula, a peer mediation
program, community learning, support groups, Schools Attuned,
and all-schools assemblies.
Areas for improvement were identified in the report, and a study group led
by Pete Miller is set to evaluate, suggest, and implement new programs to
enhance wellness at Lab. Suggested areas of improvement include a focus on
nutrition, physical fitness, and human growth and reproduction in more areas
of the curriculum, including teachers from different Schools and departments
who will address issues from a variety of perspectives. The successful peer
mediation program in the Middle School could be implemented in the High School.
Community Learning experiences should and could be a part of the Middle School
program, either through advisory or an expanded Community Learning program.
Other areas to focus on include Schools Attuned, anti-bias and diversity curricula,
and the need for more all-schools assemblies. We are continuing to address
physical plant health and safety issues.
Goal II. To Improve Related Services
Objective A. Negotiate a new multi-year collective bargaining agreement
with the Faculty Association
On the last teacher day, a new three-year collective bargaining agreement was
ratified. Negotiations between the University and Faculty Association began earlier
than usual with the expectation that we could arrive with an understanding before
the school year ended. A number of non-economic issues were clarified; a new
system of evaluation focusing on professional development will be initiated at
the beginning of the second year of the contract; and the salary schedule was
improved to increase career earnings.
Objective B. Implement strategic directions established for the Development
and Alumni Relations Office
Strengthened by a new Executive Director and an active Development Committee,
significant progress was made with Lab's fund raising efforts. More parents
than ever before were involved in the Community of Givers appeal and participation
increased by 4 percent. Leadership giving, as recognized by the new
Dewey Founder's Society, increased by over 100 percent. A professional
position dedicated to alumni relations was established, and a new event
was held during the University's annual alumni weekend. Connections 2005 raised
over $200,000 to be used for professional development activities and endowment
has increased to just over $9,000,000—a 32 percent increase in the past two years.
Objective C. Install a new and improved web site
The redesigned Laboratory Schools' web site was launched at the beginning of
this school year. A refined new look, much improved navigation, an interactive
all-schools calendar, and regularly posted, fresh front page content were
among the best-received features.
During the year, many second tier pages were updated to reflect the new looks.
Our web content manager, Marty Billingsley, developed over one hundred news
item features for the front page, including several slideshows and video
displays of school events.
A user satisfaction survey posted six months after the launch provided very
positive feedback from just over one hundred respondents and led to minor alterations
in order to improve navigation.
Objective D. Continue to address the maintenance and cleanliness of
the school facilities
Maintaining aging buildings and keeping them clean after being used by
nearly 2,000 students and adults has required the Lab Schools to employ two
additional day time custodians during the past two years. The Schools are
replacing aged carpeting with vinyl tile flooring to keep hallways cleaner and
to reduce dust accumulation. Cleaning of air ducts and replacement of temperature
controls are on going, with significant work being planned for this summer.
The University also contracted with a new pest management service, and the
schools have noticed marked improvement.
Objective E. Complete facilities improvements including Blaine restrooms,
Judd 126, and Gerstley Student Center
All planned facilities improvements were completed by the beginning of the
school year. Restroom facilities in Blaine are now complete; Judd 126 has
been a welcome large group area that each of our divisions uses, and the
Gerstley Center has given seniors much greater privacy but is still within the
supervision of the High School Dean.
David W. Magill
Director
| 
