Old Principal's Feature: Peacock

In order to more effectively track student discipline a monthly profile of interventions has been created. The data is used to provide staff with a view of months when student discipline appears to be at a peak. With that information, our Leadership Council reviews current practices and determines the need for more specific interventions directed at periods of high incident reports. The charts below reflect the first six months of discipline at Peacock as well as counselor interventions in key areas of concern.

2004-05 Discipline

Month	30-minute detentions	One-hour detentions	Two-hour detentions	Bus suspensions	In-school suspensions	Suspensions	Expulsions
Aug./Sep.	4	3	0	0	2	0	0
Oct.	19	16	0	2	1	0	0
Nov.	36	25	3	0	2	5	0
Dec.	41	8	2	5	1	4	0
Jan.	16	8	2	0	0	5	0

2004-05 Counselor Student Contacts

Month	Academic	Attendance	Discipl.	Peer issues	Emotional concerns	Family issues	Health issues	Sexual harass.	Teasing
Aug./Sep.	6	1	9	48	16	4	12	2	11
Oct.	14	0	23	27	1	0	3	14	12
Nov.	17	0	20	41	2	2	0	20	16
Dec.	18	0	16	44	3	3	2	0	7
Jan.	15	0	5	28	1	3	0	37	6

2004-05 Counselor Parent Contacts

Month	Academic	Attendance	Discipl.	Peer issues	Emotional concerns	Family issues	Health issues	Sexual harass.	Teasing
Aug./Sep.	19	0	2	7	3	0	4	0	1
Oct.	12	0	1		1	0	6	9	2
Nov.	18	0	6	6	2	2	0	1	1
Dec.	11	0	1	4	4	0	3	0	2
Jan.	6	0	2	0	1	0	0	3	0

For the past two school years, Peacock has convened a Parent Advisory Committee whose purpose is to address critical issues that impact our school. The committee typically consists of 5-8 parents along with PeacockÕs principal and counselor.

This yearÕs group has met each month since October with its final session planned for Wednesday, February 23 at 7 pm. The committee has been extremely helpful in providing PeacockÕs administration with suggestions and recommendations on key practices at our building. In particular, it has been noted that a decline in attendance at most parent forums these past few years has taken place. Most recently, community forums such as the gang and drug awareness programs the police facilitated were met with low turnouts. In addition, school sponsored events such as this yearÕs Curriculum Night and even parent conferences saw fewer parents in attendance than in past years. The committee suggested that school programs, in particular the Curriculum Night, could include modified versions of the aforementioned drug and gang programs during scheduled grade level breaks held in the open space of our atrium where parents have typically gathered for socializing. Another suggestion dealt with the poor responses we have had with our annual parent surveys. Last year, less than a 5% return was generated when we placed the survey on our web site. The average return over the years has been about 32%. The committee suggested that the surveys be distributed within the envelopes containing our 3^rd quarter report cards. The completed surveys will also be returned in the same report card envelope hopefully providing a far higher return than in previous years. If you recall, the surveys were mailed home in late May with a return date of early June, typically after students had completed their year at Peacock. This earlier distribution and return date will hopefully help parents more accurately reflect upon their experiences with our school.

The Parent Advisory Committee has become an invaluable support for PeacockÕs administration in not only gaining insight into community issues and concerns regarding our school and district but also providing helpful strategies in addressing these issues and concerns. While the final meeting of this yearÕs group is February 23, 2005 interested parents who wish to participate on next yearÕs committee may sign-up at the 2005 Curriculum Night in September.

Throughout the 2000-01 school year, Peacock’s Leadership Council investigated alternative scheduling options for the 2001-02 school year. The investigation resulted in the implementation this year of a block schedule that provided students and staff with expanded times of up to 89 minutes for all core subjects.

While we have had many individuals express approval of the expanded times, the Leadership Council has fielded concerns from a number of sources that have included teachers and parents over the issue of homework.

The schedule calls for a student to have, for example, a math class on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The problem, according to some arises with the gap of days between teacher/student contact. Some students require an almost immediate feedback from teachers over relatively new tasks that are being learned. When that feedback is delayed, students may have difficulties retaining what was taught. They may also independently practice what may be incorrect without receiving timely intervention from their teachers.

Our Leadership Council is in the process of addressing these concerns of our current schedule. If changes to the master schedule are required they will first be presented to the Board of Education later in the spring of this school year for approval and then be communicated to all families through the Principal’s Newsletter before the start of the 2002-2003 school year.

Within every report card envelope that will be distributed on Friday, January 25th an update of each child’s community service hours will be included. Parents are strongly encouraged to review not only their child’s report card but also this service update letter.

As has been reported on numerous occasions and is clearly stated in each child’s 2001-2002 Student Assignment Notebook on pages 8 and 19 “All students at each of Peacock’s grade levels will be required to complete a minimum of six (6) community service hours each of the years they are students at the school”. The letter to be included in the report card envelope reflects the current number of hours that a child has completed and has reported to their advisor using proper documentation forms. Forms are available from each advisor.

Should you have any questions about our community service process or concerns about the accuracy of the hours that are reflected on the form, please do not hesitate to contact my office. Please remember, our desire is to help your child accomplish all required goals at Peacock. If any child has difficulties in selecting opportunities for community service involvement, please have them see their advisor, our counselor, the student council president and vice-president, or myself for help.

Twice each school year, at the end of the first semester and at the end of the school year, I present information on discipline to the Itasca School Board of Education.

The reports summarize eight types of discipline interventions that are recorded and maintained in my office. These interventions are:

This year’s first semester report, given to the board in January, reveals that most minor and major student disruptions have decreased significantly over the past several years.

While we have had a few incidents of a relatively serious nature, the year has progressed smoothly and successfully. As principal, I wish to congratulate the students, staff, and parents who have helped create this positive environment.

Each year about this time we wonder where our summer has gone. The start of the new school year seems to catch all of us by surprise as we realize there are just a few days remaining to the leisure of our relaxed schedules. However, all things must come to an end.

We have several changes to present to you for the 2000-01 school year. Just prior to the start of the year, our 8th grade social studies teacher, Mr. Pat Coate resigned his position to go into private business. We anticipate hiring his replacement within the next several weeks. In the interim, the students are in very capable hands with Mrs. Lois Sislow.

We are all very excited at the prospects of having a video recording studio and production center available for our students. The broadcast center was completed over the summer and awaits the equipment that will allow our students to begin creating live and taped broadcasts that serve our school’s population. Our goal is to create "newscasts" that will take the place of our daily announcements. The experience will generate tremendous enthusiasm among our students and possibly generate opportunities for the future.

We also have additional computer hardware that has been placed into each classroom providing students and teachers with more technology to facilitate the curriculum at every level. An exciting parallel to this infusion of hardware, is the establishment of Peacock’s Fine and Applied Arts Technology Lab. This 16-station lab will serve all of our students in the application of our unique curricular endeavors facilitated by the Encore staff.

A wonderful addition to our building has been the face-lift that our display sign in front of the building has received. A brick base and border, a change in color, and a new face symbolic of Peacock’s middle school and Blue Ribbon status welcomed our students back to school. The sign reflects Peacock’s correct full name and carries the official Blue Ribbon symbol that has been embodied into the brickwork.

The students and staff of Peacock cordially invite our community to the first annual Wall of Fame Induction Ceremony to be held on Wednesday, September 27th from 1:00-2:00 p.m. in our gym. The first group of Peacock alumni will be inducted into our Wall of Fame in a ceremony that will include the dedication and presentation of our Blue Ribbon flag and plaque.

I hope that you make the opportunity to visit us often throughout the year. Your active involvement in your child’s education is key to his/her success. I would personally like to invite every parent to attend my Principal Coffees held most months on the last Wednesday of the month. I also encourage everyone to attend Peacock’s Curriculum Night to be held on Thursday, September 14th at 7:00 p.m.

F. E. Peacock Middle School has been selected as a 1999-2000 Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education. The Blue Ribbon, the most prestigious education award in the country, distinguishes Peacock for its excellence in leadership, teaching, curriculum, student achievement, parent involvement, and community support.

This is a great honor for the students, teachers, staff members, and parents of Peacock. It’s a powerful validation of the hard work and commitment that have led to our focus on quality and continuing improvement. However, this is just the beginning of the process. We’ve reached these high standards and the Blue Ribbon award inspires us to even greater achievements in the coming years.

Schools selected for recognition prepared an extensive written nomination package representing a thorough self-evaluation. The process involved assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the school and developing improvement plans for the future. When evaluating nominations, the Department of Education looks for overall school quality, including challenging standards and curriculum, excellent teaching, ongoing professional development by teachers and staff members, a safe and supportive school environment, family and community partnerships that contribute to school quality, and high or improving student performance on measures of achievement.

Peacock was one of six Illinois middle schools and the only one from DuPage selected this year from a pool of 377 nationally nominated secondary schools. Established in 1982, the Blue Ribbon Schools Program celebrates elementary and secondary schools in alternate years and has evolved to place strong emphasis on school improvement.

Representatives from Peacock will attend a national ceremony in the fall in Washington, D. C. where we will be congratulated by the president and education officials and receive a Blue Ribbon flag and plaque.

During the summer months a video production studio and control room will be created in Peacock’s media center. A space of approximately 12’ X 36’ on the northwest side of the center will be walled in. That area will be divided to house our studio production and the control area necessary to drive our live and taped student-run production network.

The studio/control rooms will have many of the same components that actual television studios have. We envision our students creating live broadcasts to each classroom for school announcements and newscasts. We further envision that our student reporters will be gathering not only newsworthy print information but also videotape that will be used within these broadcasts.

This certainly is an exciting time for our school and our district. In addition to the components necessary to establish the video center project, Peacock is preparing itself for an additional computer lab to be dedicated to the fine arts and multi-media student productions. Our students will be able to access industry standard, professional hardware and software that will create life-long skills.

It wasn’t long ago that Gina M. was a normal active student at Peacock Jr. High School. Shortly before Thanksgiving, however, her young life took a dramatic turn when she began experiencing stomach pains and headaches. Gina was brought in to see a physician where examinations revealed that she has Systemic Lupus Erythmatosis, more commonly referred to as "Lupus".

Lupus is a difficult condition for doctors to diagnose because there are numerous symptoms. Lupus causes the body’s immune system to recognize its own tissue as an "enemy". The body then attacks its own cells and causes pain and inflammation. Connective tissues are affected by Lupus. While there are over 1.5 million people with the disease, each person is affected differently, depending upon which tissue in the body is affected. For most people, Lupus is a mild disease affecting only a few organs, but for others, it can be serious and life threatening.

In Gina’s case the Lupus began at a young age and her kidneys were seriously affected causing her to have dangerously high blood pressure and some other health problems. She was hospitalized for several weeks and is just beginning to resume partial days at school. However, she continues to have significant limitations. She can no longer eat foods that kids her age tend to eat. She must limit the amounts of salt and protein that she consumes as well as eliminate some fruits and juices from her diet. Gina must have her blood drawn often and her blood pressure monitored several times every day. Soon Gina will receive chemotherapy and possibly experience the dramatic side effects from that therapy.

There is no cure for Lupus but treatment does help. The family is experiencing a significant on-going financial burden as a result of Gina’s treatments even though her mother, a single parent, has medical insurance. The co-payments have frequently exceeded $150 per month and may increase with the new therapy scheduled. Her mother has missed many weeks of work throughout this family crisis. The family continues to face the probability of more missed work days and many more medical expenses.

To help Gina and her family the students and staff of Peacock Jr. High School have begun a process of establishing a fund to be located at the Itasca Bank & Trust. During the next three months, 100% of the proceeds of three dances (an additional dance will be scheduled for February 25th) will go into this fund. To help with costs associated with dances, we will ask for pizza and soft drink contributions from the community. In addition, a donation fee of $2.00 per person will be charged to attend our spring musical entitled Annie.

The students of Peacock will be challenged to create fundraising activities through their advisor classes. We hope that additional money will be donated by groups and individuals sharing our concern for the well-being of Gina and her family.

A call to the community of Itasca and beyond:
Peacock’s Wall of Fame needs your help

Peacock has graduated many hundreds of children since it first opened its doors in 1940. Unfortunately, however, our students see few examples of our school’s history and even fewer examples of the people that established the standard by which current and future students are measured. We would like to provide today’s students with a connection to Peacock’s past graduates.

For several years now we have been featuring students and their academic and athletic achievements in our Wall of Fame area located in the front hallway of the school. Recently, we added three display cases that have allowed us to expand Peacock’s athletic history somewhat by providing additional room to showcase past and present athletic performances.

Beginning with the start of our next school year, we would like to expand our Wall of Fame to include pictures and a brief biography of "successful" former graduates of Itasca Grade School – North School– Itasca Jr. High School – F. E. Peacock Jr. High School. Our goal is to identify as many former graduates as we can and honor them for their success in life. We are interested in showcasing a wide variety of individuals in our Wall of Fame. Honorees may include doctors, lawyers, clergy, or educators. Other honorees may include those involved in community activities, outstanding citizens, professional entertainers, or sports figures. The important thread is that all honorees are well respected and attribute a portion of their success to the time they spent at Peacock.

In order to succeed in this undertaking we will need your help. Between now and the end of the summer we will be gathering pictures and information on the school’s many graduates. If you know of an individual that you believe would qualify as a successful graduate of Peacock, please send us the following information on that person:

To gain as broad of coverage on this request for graduates, this edition of the Principal’s Newsletter will be posted on our district’s web site at http://itasca.k12.il.us/itschool.htm.

As George Bernard Shaw once said, "People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don’t believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can’t find them, make them".