District 95 offering Internet access to student records

November 20, 2008
By STEPHANIE KOHL skohl@pioneerlocal.com

Parents will soon be able to check their children's attendance, grades and homework assignments with Community Unit School District 95's eSchool Home Access Center.

The Home Access Center, donated by John and Bobbi Sfire and the School District 95 Educational Foundation, will allow Internet access of student records via the district's Web site.

Students sitting in front of laptops applaud as members of the Educational Foundation and officials of District 95 held a press conference at Lake Zurich High School to announced their new E-School Home Access web site that allows parents and students to track their grades and attendance at all times. (Rob Dicker/Staff Photographer)

"It only forms a stronger collaboration between the parent and child and that's so important," said John Sfire, Foundation chairman.

The program will pilot in Middle School South and Lake Zurich High School on Dec. 4. By mid-January, the goal is to pilot the program at Middle School North as well. The program should be in place by fall 2009 for all parents and students in grades 6-12.

Parents and students will each have their own log in information and the Home Access Center will allow parents and students access to attendance records, the student's class schedule, daily homework assignments, interim progress reports, report cards and registration information, including transportation and parent or guardian information.

The site will be encrypted to ensure student information is protected, said Crystal Steker, director of technology.

Just before the school year concluded, the District 95 Educational Foundation approved six grants for teacher innovation, as a part of its first funding initiative. Teaching staff were encouraged to apply for Teacher Innovation Grants in amounts up to $2500 for programs and resources that encouraged innovation in teaching over and above the level of any funding provided by the school district.

Those awarded grants included:

• Jack VanNoord, Middle School South social studies teacher, for a project combining history, linguistics, geography, archeology, art and problem-solving in which students will set up archeological dig sites that will be uncovered by students the following year.

• Tracy Albert, May Whitney art teacher, for headphones and microphones to use with Photo Story 3 software that will enable students to import their own pictures and music into a story board, while narrating the story with their own voices.

• Karen Jaffe, Middle School North drama teacher, for two digital camcorders and cables to enable students to record their dramatic performances and edit them into short films.

• Mary Dooms, Middle School South 7th grade teacher, for a program enabling students to create and operate a small business integrating literature, language arts, math and social studies.

• Riley Broach, Middle School North orchestra teacher, for music production equipment enabling students to create a fully produced album with composed music, which will be available to the public at the end of the school year.

• Justine Repplinger, Lake Zurich High School math teacher, for a wireless system connecting the students' graphing calculators to the teacher's computer, allowing instant communication between the teacher and individual students.

The Educational Foundation is an outgrowth of the school district's latest Strategic Plan. It is an independent, not-for-profit organization working with the district to support activities and enhance, enrich and supplement instructional opportunities for students.