School District 81

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The reading room at Lincoln Middle School in Schiller Park is one of the components of the new building that has been an award-winner.

Updated: March 3, 2012 8:05AM

School building
gets design awards

Michael Henderson of STR Partners LLC, the architecture firm that worked with the community during the planning, design and construction of the new Lincoln Middle School building, recently presented the District 81 Board of Education with honors given to the firm for its work.

Lincoln Middle School, located at 9750 Soreng Ave., Schiller Park, received design awards from:

Illinois Association of School Boards - honorable mention.

Learning by Design - Award of Excellence.

American School & University - Outstanding Building.

SchoolDesigner.com - Featured Project: Indoor/Outdoor Learning Center.

Parents answer call for ‘Trivia Night’

PEP (Parents As Educational Partners) will have “Trivia Night” for District 81 families, from 6-7:30 p.m. Feb. 16, at Kennedy School, 3945 Wehrman Ave., Schiller Park.

“Dr. Seuss Night” will be from 6-7:30 p.m. Feb. 23 also at Kennedy.

“Beauty and the Beast” will be performed by the Washington School Chorus at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 23-24, and also at 7 p.m. Feb. 24, at Lincoln Middle School Theater, 9750 Soreng Ave., Schiller Park.

Middle school
pupils lend a hand

Students in District 81 Lincoln Middle School in Schiller Park recently volunteered their services to Leyden Township.

This past holiday season sparked an interest in volunteering for some students. Three classes from Lincoln had the opportunity to volunteer with Leyden Township, helping to organize and package food and toys to help families in need. Lincoln students were able to help provide 250 families with nonperishable food items and 70 families with toys.

Each year, Leyden Township collects items from local schools, town halls, churches and other local organizations. Leyden Township officials were happy to have the students’ help; what normally takes three days to complete took only six hours.

The families receiving the food and toys weren’t the only ones who benefited. Students walked away from the experience feeling good about helping out in their community. Sixth-grade teacher Nicole Knapp and the Social and Emotional Learning Committee at Lincoln organized the event.

“Students’ display of care and concern during this event was overwhelming,” said Knapp. “I saw students working hard and working together to come up with efficient ways to pack as many boxes of food as they could while we were there.”

Eighth-grade teacher Pat Trafton, said, “I was thrilled at the willingness of my students to dig right in and get started with every task they were asked to do by the Leyden staff. They worked nonstop with smiles on their faces.”

The service is what the faculty, staff and administration of Lincoln have come to expect from their students. They take care to address the component of social and emotional learning that is vital to the development of middle school children.

Principal Constance Stavrou said, “Hands-on service learning projects not only benefit people in need, but bring real life experience to our students’ lives, as well as the opportunity to reflect on these experiences. Ultimately, the social and emotional learning of a child can determine the overall success and satisfaction of his or her life.”

Over the years, Lincoln students have raised money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Children’s Memorial Hospital and other local and community organizations in need of help. Service, collaboration and team-building have become an everyday occurrence at Lincoln.

Lincoln is committed to having every student in sixth through eighth grade participate in a hands-on service project this year so they may experience the sense of fulfillment helping others can bring.

Eighth-grade student Dan Moreno was so moved by the experience at Leyden Township, he said, “I think we should do this every two weeks!”