Every Student, Every School, Every Day!
| Forest&Bluff Magazine January Issue 2009 text by KRISTINA TOBER photographs by JON CANCELINO A Donation That Gives Back Courtesy of the Spirit of 67 Next time you’re asked to buy candy or wrapping paper to support a local school, think about where that money goes and what it could possibly do. Then be thankful—if your child attends a District 67 school—that you don’t have to sell it. Fund-raising and schools go hand-in-hand. As state and local budgets tighten, having the funds on hand to support and even enrich a school curriculum is no longer a luxury. It’s the difference between a school district that flourishes and one that flounders in today’s competitive educational and economic environment. Created in 1985, the Spirit of 67 was founded by Lake Forest District 67 parents who sought a more meaningful and lucrative alternative to the hodgepodge of school fund-raisers. |
They believed a more focused, united effort could better raise the desired funds for curricular enhancements. More than 20 years and $2.5 million dollars in grants later, the Spirit has proven to be an impressive and invaluable resource for this district. This annual budget enables the district to provide a core curriculum for its students. The Spirit of 67, as the district’s sole authorized fund-raising organization, provides the necessary revenue to pay for the enriching, educational, and cultural experiences that enhance this core curriculum—but couldn’t typically be funded by the annual operating budget. |
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“The Spirit of 67 provides an extraordinary support system for this district,” explains District 67 Superintendent Harry Griffith. “Without the fundraising provided by this foundation, we could not provide the array of services and improvements that positions our staff and students for today’s global environment.” Unlike other school districts that fund-raise for a specific enhancement or program designated by the local superintendent or Board of Education, the Spirit of 67 funds individual grants. Anyone in the district (teachers, staff, parents, and students) can apply for a grant. Grants are awarded based on the total donations received for the year. For the 2008-2009 school year, $275,000 was slated to 36 grants. Spirit grants benefit 100 percent of the district students and span all academic areas—from technology and science to fine arts and wellness. Most provide programs and improvements that students use every day, for many years. These grants enable the district to introduce new programs and initiatives, while most districts can only maintain existing resources. Grants also give teachers access to state-of-the-art assessment tools and enrichment education—opportunities for educators to renew, refresh, and improve. |
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| A recent example of this is the introduction of the Eval-u-Write computerized writing program, available to all students in fifth through eighth grade. This computer-scored writing program gives students feedback and individual instruction, and teachers get detailed information to help target teaching. Writing is scored on four of the six traits of writing: organization, word choice, sentence fluency, and the conventions of punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and grammar. Pop-ups ask students prompting questions and give diagnostic feedback. The Spirit also funds the Sixth Grade Cultural Fair, a multifaceted, hands-on program that culminates two months of Southeast Asia studies. This year, the fair welcomed a guest speaker from the University of Illinois’ Center for Southeast Asia and Middle Eastern Studies outreach program to speak about pop culture today, as well as a recently deployed Army National Guardsman. Along with gaining awareness of cultural differences, students are exposed to new tastes and smells through the Spice Trade and Food stations, and can touch and experiment with historical artifacts and items used in daily life. Without the Spirit grant, the school would only be able to replenish supplies year-to-year, rather than introduce new program elements, upgrade technology, and introduce guest speakers. Grants also allow the district to keep core learning fresh and relevant. The newly funded Playaway digital audiobooks bring kids back to reading in a generation tied to technology. And the response has been tremendous. Whether it’s the reluctant reader or a child who just wants to hear a good story, these audiobook players expose kids to literature and plant the seed of reading. These are just a sampling of the many grants funded by the Spirit of 67 that benefit every area of the curriculum. Without this funding, District 67 would not be able to offer such a rich educational experience and keep pace with the latest educational and technological innovations. But the Spirit can’t function without the support of every District 67 family. With the exception of funds raised by the annual home tour and golf outing, almost all donations come directly from district families (with employee matching contributions and corporate solicitations). Think of your donation as a small thank you for not having to sell wrapping paper or candy. More importantly, know that your contribution, no matter the size, is critical to helping fund an amazingly rich and exciting curriculum for our children. For more information on the Spirit of 67 Foundation, please visit their newly redesigned Web site at www.spiritof67foundation.org. |
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| Forest&Bluff Magazine April Issue 2009 text by ELAINE SLAYTON photographs by JON CANCELINO Sneak Peek: Spirit of 67 Home Tour |
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Kick off spring with a tour of four stunning Lake Forest homes distinguished for their design, architecture, and historical significance. This year’s 7th annual Spirit of 67 Foundation Home Tour will take place on Thursday, May 7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and promises to offer delightful and unique perspectives on home design and style. To offer our readers a “sneak peak” of what to expect, the Foundation has given F&B the exclusive privilege of revealing one of this year’s featured homes. The home of Aileen DiPascal, built in 1954 by Jerome Cerney, and later enlarged in 2006, is infused with all the rich colors and exuberant personality of New Orleans. Born and raised in New Orleans, Aileen has created a home that is reminiscent of her southern heritage right here in Lake Forest. The Mardi Gras beads that adorn the front second-floor wrought iron balcony are a visitor’s first hint that there is something special about this home. In fact, Aileen selected the home in large part because of its New Orleans’ architectural characteristics.
Enter into the foyer through the 19th century Parisian elevator door. Twisted in glazed wrought iron, the French word ascenseur, which means “lift” invites visitors to be transported in time and place. |
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| “I wanted to create an inviting home,” says Aileen, “that would be fun, funky, and livable all at the same time.” This playful attitude is immediately evident in the parlor, with its cheetah print wallpaper and old-fashioned “telephone chairs,” designed to ensconce one in a cocoon of private conversation. Move into the billiard room flooded with natural light, where a gorgeous pool table accented with luxurious gold felt and tassels serves as the centerpiece. Aileen had the pool table built with her father, a third-generation cabinetmaker, in mind. It’s made of walnut, with inlays of mahogany, black cherry, birdseye maple, and pear wood with legs influenced by English and Italian design. Be prepared to be enchanted in the sunroom. Perhaps it is the lush tropical plants, such as the big leafed banana tree, that give this room its greatest appeal, or the large oil painting of Aileen above the antique chest. All of the French doors with southern exposure, including the sunroom, open out to flank the patio and pool area. “I wanted the backyard to look like a Caribbean resort,” explains Aileen. In summer months, she moves the tropical plants outdoors to evoke an authentic New Orleans courtyard. Tracy Boward designed the natural woodland, low-maintenance gardens, including five raised bed organic vegetable gardens with a 7' urn as a focal point, and Tony Alba designed the courtyard-style stonework that surrounds the heated pool. To add French Quarter flavor, crystal chandeliers can be found throughout the house, including a very large Waterford Chandelier in the master bedroom. Tassels, trim, beads, feathers, and fur accent the home throughout. Perhaps most intriguing is the room that serves as Aileen’s office. The walls are dramatically dark, but the room somehow manages to be extremely inviting. It’s as if you’ve been swallowed up in a safe and secret place where you might have the most intimate conversation or seal a secret business deal. Or, you might sit on the oversized cheetah print chairs that Aileen describes as “Queen Anne on steroids,” and laugh with a girlfriend over an exotic cocktail. If those options don’t appeal, take a nap on the plump black leather chaise that promises to be divinely comfortable. “We chose this house for its interesting design and unique artwork, and because it is a great family home and the door is always open to welcome friends and family,” says Leslie O’Connor, one of three co-chairs for this year’s tour. The Spirit of 67 Foundation is a not-for-profit organization established in 1985 as a parent volunteer organization. Its mission is to raise funds and acquire resources to provide enriching, educational, and cultural experiences for students that might not otherwise be available. Every year, dedicated teachers, students, and parents of the district submit grant requests for ideas that would enhance the curriculum. Grants touch all academic areas, from language arts and science to wellness and technology. F&B |
Photographs and videos of students and staff are taken throughout the year to be used for the district website, e-newsletters, newspapers (both print and online editions), and other District 67 publicity purposes. The use of District 67 photographs for commercial or endorsement purposes is prohibited. Lake Forest Cable TV films various events for local viewing. If you do not want your child photographed or videotaped for District 67 use, you must submit, in writing, a statement to the Superintendent of Schools.
